INTERNATIONAL ISSUE +

2018 Arch Award Winners Wherever Life Takes You

FALL |WINTER2018 CONGRATULATIONS Derrick Hunter 2018 Management Alumni Excellence Award Recipient

The Management Alumni Excellence Award recognizes individual excellence in advocacy of higher education, industry innovation, service to the university and community influence.

Learn more and nominate a future Management Alumni Excellence Award recipient: haskayne.ucalgary.ca/alumni/max Contents FALL | WINTER 2018

32 Diversity, inclusivity and cultural insights have become critical elements of a university education as the world becomes more interconnected and competitive. But what happens when education is in the line of fire, when your home happens to be a war-torn country? In this 13-page feature on the internationalization of education, we follow the harrowing journeys of three immigrants who, in some cases, risked everything they had in order to land at UCalgary.

Departments 5 | Notebook CONGRATULATIONS 14 | In the Field 18 |  POV: Lost in Translation Derrick Hunter 20 | Mind & Body 2018 Management Alumni Excellence Award Recipient 22 | Dropping In 24 | Unconventional Paths The Management Alumni Excellence Award 52 | Out & About recognizes individual excellence in advocacy of 54 | Where Are We? higher education, industry innovation, service to the university and community influence. 26 46 Learn more and nominate a future Management Alumni TAKE A PEEK Wherever Life UCalgary 2018 Arch Excellence Award recipient: Replay the thrill of receiving an Arch Award haskayne.ucalgary.ca/alumni/max with this video. Takes You Award Recipients alumni.ucalgary.ca/ From career-boosting tips and ridiculously Meet five extraordinary alumni who changemakers fun new programs to the merits of embody drive, determination and volunteering, discover the new direction teamwork in all that they do. Discover UCalgary Alumni is taking. why their inspiring stories matter.

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2 0 1 8 - 1 9 SEASON

UCalgary Alumni magazine is published twice a year SCHOOL OF by the University of Calgary Alumni Association.

EVITAERC EVITAERC AND Associate V.P. Illustrator Alumni Engagement Kelly Sutherland PERFORMING Michael V. Sclafani Videographer Director, Alumni Marketing Steve Chin ARTS and Communications Copy Editors Rebecca Schulz (on leave) Deb Cummings, Kendra Desmarais (acting) Alex Frazer-Harrison Editor-in-Chief Fact Checker Deb Cummings Geri Savits-Fine Specialist, Creative Services Contributors Thi Vo Barbara Balfour, Claudia Graphic Design Bustos, Deb Cummings, Thomas Magee, Christina Mike Fisher, Alex Frazer- Milloy, Theo Wilting Harrison, Graeme Lauber, Photographers Geneviève Laurent, Mona Ahmed, Riley Brandt, Andrea Lee Morrow, Erin Momen Faiz, Nathalie Guironnet, Mason, Jacquie Moore, Derek Heisler, Kelly Johnston, Faryal Nasir, Michael Sadie Packer, Adrian Shellard, Sclafani, David Silverberg, Ciano Vetromille Mark Witten, Kate Zimmerman

To Advertise [email protected] Contact information Alumni Association, University of Calgary 105B - 906 8 Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2P 1H9 CANADA Email: [email protected] Reader feedback phone: 403.220.8500 Address changes phone: 403.220.8500 Toll free: 1.877.220.8509 alumni.ucalgary.ca/magazine Views expressed in this magazine do not reflect official positions of the University of Calgary or the University of Calgary Alumni Association. Online address changes: go.ucalgary.ca/alumni-contact Publications Mail Sales Agreement #42717541

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EXC EXC OF EL OF EL E L E L L E L E C N C N R GOLD C R SILVER C I E I E C CASE C CASE A WINNER A WINNER W M W M A A A R R A R R D S PR O G D S PR O G

4 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 Notebook Learning Without Borders

hen I was a kid, my parents would alternate beloved cottage holidays with W what my brother and I dubbed, “the dreaded educational road trips.” The only redeeming highlight of the latter were not all those AMA TripTik viewpoints we’d be forced to stop at, but, rather, the spectacular cannonballs my brother and I would perform at the motel swimming pools at the end of every day. Whether these trips influenced my lifelong love of travel (but not of road trips), I’ve become a big believer in gap years and study abroad programs. This love also stems from the answers I’ve collected from hundreds of interviews I’ve had with alumni where I have asked them for their “biggest regret about their university life.” The overwhelming response has been, “I wish I had studied abroad.” The reverse has also been true. When asked for a seminal university experience, most will say, “my study abroad.” Their reasons, of course, are varied. What, however, we do know is that globalization is here to stay and that students who want to work in our global world should likely study overseas at some point. In fact, so strongly does UCalgary believe this, it’s committed to seeing that 50 per cent of its students have an international learning experience by the time they graduate (UCalgary is currently at 22 per cent). Don’t believe how life-altering these experiences can be? Turn to page 36 where you’ll discover what seven study abroad participants and leaders have to say. But the internationalization of education isn’t just about encouraging Canadians to study abroad. It’s a two-way highway by which Canadian universities are striving to create intercultural classrooms by recruiting more international students. In fact, right now, there are nearly 4,000 international students representing 120 different countries at UCalgary — with undergrads hailing mostly from China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the U.S. If some of the ideas on tolerance and diversity that we explore in this issue take hold, maybe more of us will value an educational experience that fosters the kind of long-term relationships that open doors to future trade, commerce and cultural opportunities that will benefit us all. That, indeed, was the spirit that drove this particular issue of UCalgary Alumni Magazine. We hope you find this edition on international education illuminating and, should you want to invest in removing any barriers posed by financial need, you will find a donation envelope — something we’ve never done before — tucked into the middle of this magazine. If you’re a parent, lifelong learner and traveller like me, you might just want to make an international experience an essential and affordable component of a well-rounded education. In all its forms — study abroad programs, faculty-led research projects, overseas internships Riley Brandt and co-ops — an international education will enable us to build on the knowledge and talent Canada needs to succeed on a global scale. Here at UCalgary, we believe that the intercultural classroom is an asset to domestic and international students, alike. I love the thought that, somewhere, two lucky kids might still cannonball into a pool, but, when they pop up, they might just know how to chat in Spanish, French or Mandarin with all the other tykes at the Super 8. Do you have a story of your own to share? Email me at [email protected]. And be sure to follow us @ucalgaryalumni on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. — Deb Cummings, MEd’17, Editor U

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Connect to the Energy of UCalgary Alumni UCalgary Alumni is your global network that is nearly 180,000 strong — and growing! There are so many ways to connect to this energetic hub in Calgary and cities around the world. Follow @ucalgaryalumni on social media, watch your inbox and visit alumni.ucalgary.ca for dates and more information about these programs and events.

NEW: NEW: NEW: FUTURE ALUMNI NETWORK ALUMNI MENTORSHIP LINKS AND DRINKS Students are future alumni! The Future This winter, share your skills and Graduates of the last decade — make Alumni Network launches in 2019 — expertise in the new alumni mentorship connections and learn some important connecting current students to the energy program. This is your digital connection career and life hacks at this atypical of UCalgary Alumni and building UCalgary to advancing your career and sharing with alumni mixer. Drinks provided! pride from Day One. your alumni community.

ALUMNI PARTNERSHIPS GROW YOUR CAREER UCalgary Alumni supports many CONFERENCE faculty-led programs throughout the year. Grow your mind at: You’ll leave this one-day conference with DIG IN! • Design Matters tips and practical advice that will help Dig in to the most important meal and (Faculty of Environmental Design) guide your career journey, no matter if topics of the day! Join fellow UCalgary • Sustainability Speaker Series you’re looking for new opportunities or alumni for an interactive discussion of (Office of the Provost) are aiming to develop professionally in current events, innovation and trends. • Death by Chocolate your current career. The coffee is on us! (Schulich School of Engineering)

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COMING SOON Join the Conversation A new twist on a typical wine and cheese event and behind-the-scenes Stay connected with your alma field trips are two brand-new mater by diving into our regular programs to watch for in 2019. Also, watch out for other exciting events e-publications or bookmarking hosted by faculties in partnership alumni.ucalgary.ca where with UCalgary Alumni that will run you’ll discover exclusive alumni ON THE ROAD WITH throughout the year! THE IDEA EXCHANGE TOUR benefits, news and details on upcoming alumni events. Here’s A lively discussion with leading UCalgary NEW: how you can easily stay in touch: researchers and experts where you will WINE + CHEESE + explore ideas that challenge perceptions, push boundaries and spark meaningful WORLD EVENTS change. Watch for the Idea Exchange Tour Learn about the state of the world returning to cities across Canada and the through wine and cheese. Details United States starting in February 2019. coming this spring. Email [email protected] for additional information. NEW: Mid-month in your inbox, you’ll find Here’s a snapshot of when we’ll be where: ALUMNI FIELD TRIPS Alumni News, showcasing a handpicked • Feb. — San Francisco Get behind-the-scenes access to selection of the best stories and videos • Feb. – Vancouver new and unusual places in the great from UCalgary. • March – New York City company of your fellow alumni. • March – Washington, D.C.

At the end of each month, we send you Alumni Connection — a customized newsletter packed with event information.

Connect with @ucalgaryalumni on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

SKATE WITH SANTA Santa returns to the Olympic Oval on Nov. 25, 2018. Lace up your skates and bring the whole family to take a spin around the fastest ice in the world. U

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 7 Notebook

hat prompts someone to offer W lodging to complete strangers is a many-varied thing. If you’re running an Airbnb, it may be for the money, but, if you’re hosting an international student, it’s more likely altruism or reciprocity, as the money is just a stipend. For Katerine and Emmanuel Delfin, it was an empty suite in their home’s lower level, as well as an opportunity, explains Katerine, to show their two teenage girls “that there are many ways to be nice to people … and why It’s Not About the Money Photo: Adrian Shellard not learn about the world over dinner?” Plus, she adds, “if my girls end up “We have kept in touch with him,” summer-intensive English program: Yuina travelling or studying overseas, I would explains Karen, adding that William’s trip Fukushima from Japan and Yoori Cho like to think some kind family would take to Calgary launched his travels which have from Korea. What impressed Yuina the care of them,” recalling the many friendly now taken him from L.A. to Alaska, along most was, “everything is very big here and folk Katerine met when she first moved to with two long stays in South America. fathers finish work earlier in Canada. My Calgary from Peru in 1998. “William is now fluent in French, English father never gets home before 8 or 9 p.m., Karen and Dave Holmes, who have now and Spanish and just graduated from so we just eat dinner with our mother, hosted nine students through UCalgary’s university,” adds Karen, explaining, as never our father.” Homestay program, waited until they were proudly as any parent, that his one-month For Yoori, “it’s the sky and how fresh empty-nesters. It was the summer of 2013 English course at UCalgary was the first and clean everything is — that’s what’s — their sons had just moved out when a time he had ventured outside of Quebec. different.” — Deb Cummings fun-loving student from Quebec named This past summer, the Delfins hosted Read the full story online at William moved in. two students who were enrolled in the alumni.ucalgary.ca/exchange U

Behind the Checkpoints Photo: Momen Faiz

o discuss anything related to of Calgary in 2009, and, this fall, the T Palestine, the conversation usually Calgary Public Library has hired him to be literary heritage as a starting point. begins and ends with political conflict. But a writer-in-residence to assist writers with Were you surprised by anything you for his latest book, Pay No Heed to the their manuscripts. We recently caught up uncovered talking to Palestinian writers? Rockets, Marcello Di Cintio, BA/BSc’97, with the award-winning author: I didn’t expect to see so many young female interviewed poets, authors and scholars to What motivated you to investigate the writers. They face oppression in two ways, learn how imagination and creativity played Palestinian literary scene? by being both a woman and Palestinian, but a vital role in uniting Palestinians in the The West only sees Palestine on the news they find freedom on the page. For them, face of violence and upheaval. when a mother is crying over her dead the art of writing is a beauty to behold in Before he embarked on a career as an children or when a militant is throwing and of itself. — David Silverberg author, Calgary-based Di Cintio spent a rocks. But they have a full culture like Read the full story online at year as writer-in-residence at the University anywhere else and I wanted to use their rich alumni.ucalgary.ca/checkpoints U

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Cool Classes That Will Make You Wish You Were Still a Student

If these UCalgary classes had been around when we Haskayne Wilderness Retreat: Business Topics include: building blocks of food, were students, we would students have the unique opportunity to molecular-level understanding of recipes, participate in a six-day wilderness adventure food-related diseases, physiology of sensory have taken … in the Rocky Mountains that melds outdoor apparatus and more. — Deirdre Mooney,

activities with personal growth challenges, academic advisor, Student Success Centre courtesy NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS team building, and cross-cultural First ENGL 201 — Approach to Literature: You’ve EVDA 782 — RED: A New Beginning: One Nations teachings and ceremonies. got to love a course where the required of the design challenges tasked to students — Jackie Lewis, associate director, Campaign reading is 20 stories written by Roald Dahl. in this Master of Architecture course is EDER 678.03 — Collaborative Creativity Besides analyzing Dahl’s love of cruelty, to build livable colonies on Mars. Gravity, & Design Thinking for Innovation: Offered lust, madness and murder, you will also radiation, air and water supply, as well as the by the Werklund School of Education, learn how to make persuasive arguments inhabitants’ psychological and sociological this master’s-level cohort recently built about literature including using interpretive conditions, are covered as they create a a life-size orca whale out of cardboard, strategies for analyzing texts. — Serita Rana, livable model for four to six people. newspaper, string and tape. Lessons regional alumni specialist — Deb Cummings, publications editor, Alumni learned: collaborative skills, organizational CNST 451 — The Culture of the Calgary LING 227 — Rap Linguistics: Applying a structures, creative problem-solving — in Stampede: Offered by the Department of linguist’s approach to analyzing language other words, design thinking. — Jayne History, this interdisciplinary course takes used by rappers such as Eminem, Jay-Z Dangerfield, development co-ordinator, Werklund a deep dive into the Stampede’s vision, and Kanye West, this class also looks at Biology 202 — The Science of Food and history and operation. Of course, you also get the evolution of hip hop and its impact on Cooking: Brand-new this year, the course to spend some of your class hours havin’ a language and society. — Emily Aalbers, alumni promises to give students a scientific rootin’ tootin’ time on the grounds. relations specialist, Faculty of Arts understanding of food and cooking using — Emily Aalbers, alumni relations specialist, BSEN749 — Rediscovering Leadership: The principles from a range of biological sciences. Faculty of Arts U

SKIERS | BOARDERS | SLEDDERS | CLIMBERS

FREE AVALANCHE SAFETY AWARENESS PRESENTATION Jeff Bullock, ACMG, IFMGA Canadian Avalanche Association Pro Member

NOV 8, 2018 - 7 pm

WILL YOUR FREE. EVERYONE WELCOME. For more information: BACKCOUNTRY ucalgary.ca/outdoorcentre/events TRIP BE EPIC OR DEADLY?

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 9 Notebook

Innovator, Optimist, Trailblazer When the inestimable Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, BSc’84, MSc’87, PhD’91, steps down as UCalgary’s president at the end of the year, she’ll leave big shoes to fill. Since arriving from P.E.I. as an undergraduate, through to her steward- ship of one of the most ambitious universities (and fundraising campaigns) in Canada, Cannon has been a trailblazer, innovator and champion for transform- ative change. Her eight years at UCalgary’s helm has raised the bar on student experiences, elevated our position as a global research hub, put entrepreneurial thinking into action and strengthened community connections. We can’t help but wonder about the journey that brought her here.

“I remember driving toward Calgary and seeing the big sky country, the Rocky Mountains — the scale of everything impressed upon me that this EARLY DAYS was bigger than anything I had lived through Born and raised in Charlottetown, before. It was going to be a little uncomfortable, Lives in residence and P.E.I. “I’m the youngest of four, but I was ready for the adventure.” remains unfazed by the so by the time I came around I scarcity of women in had quite a bit of flexibility and engineering. “You’ve freedom — and those were times got to be yourself, be when, as a kid, you took off in authentic, but get along the morning, enjoyed the day with people, not get and came home when you hung up on things — were hungry.” that’s the way I approach life.”

Parents were both entomologists, GOING WEST TRAILBLAZING but her mother went back to Completes undergraduate degree Completes undergraduate degree in university to become a high in mathematics at Nova Scotia’s engineering and begins her first job school math and science teacher. Acadia University. She loads up as the first female engineer hired at a “Growing up, I don’t know if I her Dodge Omni, waves goodbye Calgary engineering firm; her interest appreciated the unique path to the east coast, and drives nearly in GPS/geomatics is unleashed. “What my mother had forged or the 5,000 kilometres with best friend fascinated me was that you had satellites support she gave me. I didn’t and three house plants in tow to 20,000 km above the earth’s surface, ever feel there were barriers — begin her engineering degree at travelling at four kilometres per second, I just did what I wanted to do, UCalgary. “I’m not sure why I felt and you could use their signals to never thinking that ‘girls the need to bring my plants to determine your location on earth — it’s can’t do that.’” Calgary, but I did.” mind-blowing. I knew it was going to make a difference.”

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Continues research ACADEMIA in the GPS/ Joins the Faculty of Engineering (now the Schulich geomatics industry, School of Engineering) in 1991. “I was finishing my often collaborating PhD around the time of the Montreal Massacre, where with colleagues Trailblazer women were targeted because they were studying to commercialize engineering. I hadn’t previously contemplated going technology to more into academia, but I was very fortunate to get one of 15 than 200 agencies new positions created by the government for women in worldwide. my field. I was only the second female faculty member at a time when society started to see the importance of having female role models in the classroom — for Appointed Dean of the Schulich women, and for young men, as well.” School of Engineering in 2006. During her tenure, propels it into the top ranks of Canadian engineering PRESIDENCY schools. “That was a pretty 24/7 job — keeping an international Appointed UCalgary president in research group on the forefront, FAMILY July 2010. Led the establishment of while committing to moving the Marries a former colleague, unprecedented Eyes High strategy to engineering school forward. I geomatics engineer Dr. Gérard elevate student experiences, research wanted to ensure that I was really Lachapelle, PhD, who goes on to outcomes and community partnerships. serving the students and the faculty become a UCalgary engineering Spurs increase in research grants and staff and, through that, the professor. “We had our first and inspires upswing in philanthropic community and the profession.” child, Sara, when I was in the involvement. “It’s about working together middle of my PhD, and I was to deliver on what our community eight months pregnant with our members expect of us. I don’t shy away son when I defended it. There’s from high expectations — I know this a lot of pressure in staying university is ready to contribute even disciplined in your studies more to put Calgary and Alberta on the during the day and being a national and international stage. That’s mom during your evenings, and been a fun part of this job — to see that not letting all of it overwhelm happen through the work of others.” you. But kids won’t let a PhD overtake your life.”

FAREWELL Prepares to leave presidency as of Dec. 31, 2018. “What I’ve been particularly proud of is that sense that we are truly a great Determined to make her Kicks off historic $1.3-billion Eyes High university. We are at the starting line of mark as an expert in GPS, campaign that exceeds the $1-billion really huge achievements. I can feel it; she returns to UCalgary for milestone ahead of schedule. “If you’ve I can see it; it will happen here. I’ve had graduate studies in geomatics got a compelling idea with a clear the pleasure of working with wonderful engineering. “I wanted to line of sight to an impact, that gets people. When I walk across campus call something my own and people excited. When I think about and see the fascinating things that are understand it well. There philanthropy, I go back to my early happening and meet the terrific people aren’t many times in life that days as an engineering professor. If in our community — well, as university an opportunity comes with a you want to do interesting work, if you president, I’ve had a front-row seat to new technology and you’re want to have partnerships, you have all that. It’s been an honour and a there to be part of it. I knew I to raise money. When you connect a privilege and I’m going to miss it.” was in a unique place and I’d community member with a piece of — Jacquie Moore U better make something of it.” the university, great things happen.”

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 11 Notebook Meet the Saigon Sub: A Foot of Food Court Wonder Let’s be honest. Who hasn’t succumbed to a foot-long, lip-smacking legacy of French colonialism, a.k.a. banh mi or a Vietnamese Sub? Owners Mai and Phong Vu

dare you to resist the yeasty smell When Khac moved his family to Calgary As for a “secret recipe,” say the one that I of freshly baked demi-baguettes in 1998, “he wanted to throw out those makes their Spicy Beef w/Cheese Sub their stacked high with fragrant cilantro stalks, a recipes, thinking he’d never use them No. 1 seller, Phong isn’t giving anything tangle of carrots, crisp slivers of cucumber, again,” recalls Phong. away. He does, however, stress that peppery beef or chicken satay that wafts out But, in 2006, the Bake Chef location everything is made from scratch (no frozen of Bake Chef in Mac Hall’s Food Court. at UCalgary became available and Khac bread or cookie dough here), and that all Few of us can, which is why we called up snapped it up, hauling out that precious the ingredients are über-fresh and bought owners Mai and Phong Vu to find out what box of treasured recipe cards and adding at local Asian markets. makes their subs so cult-worthy — they can subs to the menu. Not long after, most of To celebrate banh mi’s popularity, sell, after all, 400 of these toasted babies on the Vu family began working shifts at the however, Phong and his wife, Mai, have a busy day. little shop, toiling from 5 a.m. (when the endorsed a recipe that (they promise) is It turns out the Vu family (refugees from baguettes have to be made — yes, they very similar to Bake Chef’s crackly-crusted Vietnam) got their Canadian start in a create their own) and shutting things down toasted wonder. Be forewarned: to truly bakery in Cranbrook, B.C., where Phong’s at 7 or 8 p.m., seven days a week. recreate the Vu family’s version, be sure dad, Khac, learned English while punching “There are always students here,” to wrap it in parchment paper and bind it and pinching bread dough into all sorts of explains Phong, who continues to use his with an elastic band. Watch the Vu family artful shapes. A few years later, or so the father’s recipes for the cookies, muffins, construct a banh mi, backstage at Bake story goes, a local German baker closed cinnamon buns and baguettes Bake Chef Chef’s kitchen and enjoy this recipe at shop and sold his recipes to Khac, who then serves every day. “And they are always alumni.ucalgary.ca/sub-recipe stuffed them into a shoe box. hungry.” — Deb Cummings U

ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING

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coaches would come around to answer our questions, provide professional guidance and keep team dynamics in check. Through- out the afternoon, there would be private mentoring sessions in workrooms where we could get specific mentoring in either design, marketing or pitching. As a team, we had the freedom to do all our mentoring right away, then focus on our own work the rest of the day, or vice-versa. What was the most challenging part? Linda: Teamwork. Initially, during the From Idea to Startup ideation stage, it was helpful to have diversi- fied perspectives, but what became an issue Photo: Ciano Vetromille was trying to make a unified decision. It is EIA participants — (L-R): Belen Castillo (UC Berkeley), Tomas Ribeiro (University of Porto), Matthew Mannion (Eckerd College, Florida), Mateo Montero (UCalgary), Sophia Bendorf (UC Berkeley). actually very difficult to incentivize a team of very passionate and motivated individ- uals and I found it hindered our produc- n an attempt to nurture entrepre- undergrad students, Mateo Montero tivity when time was needed to be spent to I neurial thinking across faculties, (fourth-year psychology and marketing ensure team cohesiveness. last summer, UCalgary participated in a major) and Linda Zhu (fifth-year business What makes the experience unique? prestigious program in Portugal called student). Here’s what they had to say: Linda: It exposes students to a different the European Innovation Academy (EIA). What is it like to be with the same 500 economic market and political landscape. The Haskayne School of Business and the EIA participants for 15 intense days? During the second week, I went to Lisbon’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking Mateo: It felt as if I was trying to quench my largest hospital to conduct interviews, so the accepted 15 students from three faculties thirst by drinking from a fire hose. I wanted interactions I had with locals would not be who then spent 15 days in Portugal’s capital, to meet as many people as possible, but I was able to be replicated elsewhere. Lisbon, fully immersed in a wildly intense quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number Will this experience alter how you international startup environment. of participants — but so pleased that every- study, do business, view life? Partnering with some of the planet’s most one, no matter their language or cultural Linda: This experience altered my per- ambitious entrepreneurial institutions such background, was as open as they were. ception of cultural and language barriers. as Stanford University, UC Berkeley and What does a typical day look like? It showed me that, as long as the vision is Google, EIA’s mission is to guide 1 million Mateo: At 10 a.m., everyone gathers in well-defined, and that you are vested in entrepreneurs through its programs by a large auditorium in Lisbon to listen to making things happen, then you will attract 2022. Curious about how, exactly, one turns amazing keynote speakers for two hours. individuals who will support and work with ideas into startups in a little more than two Following that is lunch and then teamwork you, even if there are personal differences. weeks, we checked in with two UCalgary at 1 p.m. During that time, mentors and life — Deb Cummings U

2008 University of Calgary Alumni Association ARCH Award recipient

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 13 In the Field

A Mapping Success Story by Alex Frazer-Harrison

t was the rescue mission that fas- “It was nice for it to [be recognized] that I cinated the world: a race against there was a use like this for the product,” time and the elements to save 12 teenaged adds alumnus Stephen Griffiths, BSc’89, soccer players and their assistant coach chief technology officer and executive from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. vice-president of data solutions, who came to Although a rescuer tragically died, the Intermap from UCalgary with a background team was recovered safe and sound — in astrophysics. “Humanitarian aid wasn’t thanks, in large part, to 3D-mapping data really on our radar, so to have that pop up provided by Intermap Technologies, a was quite humbling. But the only thing that Denver-based company with strong UCal- was important was rescuing the kids.” gary connections. Griffiths says NEXTMap One was Ivan Maddox, BSc’96, has been with awarded its patent on June 19 — less than Ivan Maddox, BSc’96 Intermap for 18 years, and was one of the a week before the incident. “It was truly last Faculty of Engineering grads to receive an international effort: [research and a Surveying Engineering degree before it development] was in Calgary along with Both Maddox and Griffiths have fond was renamed Geomatics. the engineering team; development in memories of attending UCalgary. “They called us because Intermap’s Prague; implementation in Denver.” He “The geomatics [program at Schulich] been active in Asia for its entire existence,” adds at least 10 other UCalgary alumni is a world leader that’s also defining the recalls Maddox, Intermap’s executive work in the Calgary office. industry,” says Maddox. “I thought I vice-president of commercial solutions. So, how did the Intermap team feel as would be a land surveyor in B.C., but … “We created the data on demand and deliv- they saw the teens rescued? “Just happi- I’m doing things I never thought I’d ered it to them three hours later. Not just ness — we were so glad we were able to be doing.” the cave, but everything around it, so they get those kids out of there,” says Maddox. One of Maddox’s undergraduate pro- could plan their rescue mission.” “The second emotion we felt was apprecia- fessors remembers him as “consistently The data was based on Intermap’s tion for the teams on the ground.” attentive, technically curious and pas- NEXTMap One, a high-resolution map Adds Griffiths: “I would wake up and turn sionate about the subject. dataset offering resolution down to on the news and it was all we talked about in “[These were] key characteristics of a one metre. the office … good news all around.” future innovative technological leader,” says Dr. Gérard Lachapelle, PhD. The Intermap team and its UCalgary alumni members are embodiments of this university’s goal of impacting the world beyond the campus, says UCalgary President Elizabeth Cannon, BSc’84, MSc’87, PhD’91, who instructed geomatics at Schulich at the time Maddox attended and served as dean. When a sports team became “I am full of pride trapped in a cave in Thailand, 3D at Ivan Maddox and mapping data was used to help co- ordinate rescue efforts. In this image using Stephen Griffith’s NEXTMap One data, low elevations are blue, readiness to come to higher elevations are shown as orange. the aid of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach,” she says. “What is the purpose of higher education if not to give back to the world?” U Map image courtesy: Intermap

14 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 In the Field

Should I Take Part in a Research Study or a Clinical Trial?

ick Young is an amateur pho- coolest rooms on the UCalgary campus, R tographer who likes to spend the Visualization Studio, which has a wall- his time taking wildlife pictures in the sized, 35 million-pixel screen. The Lucida mountains. “Bears are my favourites,” says study uses the digital wall to project lifelike the 58-year-old, Airdrie-based marketing scenes — think sun-dappled mountains rep for a furniture company. That’s why and crackling campfires — and replicate Young never imagined he would partici- real-world photography locations. pate in a UCalgary research study — and From photography and psychology that he would have so much fun and learn to health and beyond, the variety of the something new in the process. more than 400 research studies and As a volunteer participant in the Lucida: clinical trials included on the Participate Photo: Riley Brandt Photography Metering Assistant study — in Research website is quite vast — and all Grad student Brad Wrobleski, BA’11, is recruiting people to test his Lucida app. which is just one of more than 400 studies the projects listed are actively recruiting and clinical trials actively recruiting participants. If you can think of a topic participants through the UCalgary Partici- that interests you — for example, com- If the study’s summary details and eligi- pate in Research website — Young gained puter games, exercise, sleeping, gambling, bility parameters look like a good fit for you, eye-opening insights into how to create stress, social media, e-cigarettes or dance click the “I’m interested in participating” better pictures. — type the term into the website’s “Search button and submit your contact infor- He was also one of the first people who research studies” box, and you’re likely to mation. Discover more at ucalgary.ca/ tested a new photography app in one of the generate some potential options. research/participate. — UToday U

Let yourself be framed (for once)!

It’s never too late to frame your UCalgary degree — now available in a variety of styles at prices to match your taste and budget.

alumni.ucalgary.ca/buyframes

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 15 In the Field

Fake It ’Til You Make It is Not a Good Plan for Job Interviews Photo: Kelly Johnston Researchers who study impression management in job interviews suggest honesty is the best policy when talking about yourself. Dr. Joshua Bourdage, BA’06, MSc’08, PhD’12, associate professor in UCalgary’s Department of Psychology, and Dr. Nicolas Roulin, PhD, associate professor of industrial/organizational psychology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, studied the behaviour of 1,470 North American (L-R): Dr. Abdel Aziz Shaheen, MD, with liver specialist Dr. Mark Swain, MD. job applicants during interviews — a field called “impression management.” Antidepressant Could be a Promising “Faking in an interview tends to be someone making up for something,” says Treatment for a Serious Liver Disease Bourdage. “It’s not that you go in and say, ‘I’m going to fake my way through this interview.’ It’s an adaptive response to, ‘I team of scientists at UCalgary’s data, he found a sub-group of people with don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t have A Cumming School of Medicine depression who were healthier than others. the experience, I am uncomfortable in this have discovered what could be a new option “As I began to look deeper, I realized situation and this interview is very difficult.’” for patients suffering from primary biliary these patients were all taking the anti- People who sell themselves in an honest cholangitis (PBC) — a rare, incurable liver depressant mirtazapine, which seemed way tend to receive a job offer, whereas disease that can be fatal if untreated. A drug to be having a positive impact on their those who fake it are often “found out” in usually prescribed for depression appears liver disease,” says Shaheen, an assistant reference checks and other verification to effectively stop progression of PBC. professor in the departments of Community processes. The researchers also found Dr. Abdel Aziz Shaheen, MD, a gastro- Health Sciences and Medicine. “You don’t that the interviewer can encourage more enterologist and epidemiologist, was expect to find people with a chronic illness honesty from an applicant by having researching the effect of depression and depression to be healthier than those a longer interview and asking specific on people with PBC and came upon an patients who don’t have depression.” questions about past behaviour or job- unexpected finding. While combing through — UToday U related situations. — UToday U

SMARTER TRAVEL

There are countless ways to travel but few are as illuminating and gratifying as a UCalgary Travel Study trip — and the depth and scope of next year’s trips are unbeatable. Whether Croatia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong or India is on your bucket list — you’ll likely find your dream destination on our 2019 roster.

Discover more by contacting Kevin Gardner at: [email protected] or 403.220.3398

16 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 In the Field

UCalgary Researchers Discover Why Staph Infection-Related Sepsis Causes Organ Failure

or patients diagnosed with a F Staphylococcus aureus infection, also known as a staph or MRSA infection, every minute counts. The bacteria create havoc in the body, the immune system goes into overdrive and the heightened immune response can lead to sepsis, which kills 30 to 50 per cent of those who develop it. In Canada, sepsis is the 12th leading cause of death. Scientists have known for some time that one of the reasons a staph infection is so deadly is the bacteria send out an alpha toxin (AT) that quickly worsens sepsis. Using a process called intravital microscopy that allows scientists to Photo: Kelly Johnston see what’s happening inside living First author of the study, Dr. Bas Surewaard, PhD. animals, UCalgary researchers recently discovered the toxin causes platelets to and kidneys, causing serious damage and effective in preventing lung damage. respond abnormally in mice. Platelets’ eventual organ failure. “When we introduced the antibody to primary role is to help stop bleeding A team of UCalgary researchers wanted the bloodstream of mice during sepsis, we in mammals after injury, but what’s to know whether an antibody that targets saw an immediate reduction in the amount relatively unknown is that platelets the toxin could be effective in preventing of clotting,” says Dr. Bas Surewaard, PhD, also play a role in the body’s defences platelets from clumping. They started a postdoc in the Department of Physiology against bacteria. Normally, platelets working with MedImmune, a drug company and Pharmacology and first author of coat bacteria to prevent the spread of a that is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial the study. microbe throughout the patient. However, where an alpha toxin antibody it developed “A single dose of the antibody reduced during sepsis caused by staph infection, is given to intensive-care unit patients liver damage by 50 per cent. By knocking as the amount of toxin in the bloodstream prone to develop pneumonia caused by out the toxin, the platelets could begin increases, the platelets aggregate to form staph due to long-term use of a ventilator. flowing in the bloodstream again.” clumps. Those clumps deposit in the liver Early indications are the antibody is — UToday U

Finally, a leadership program for the front line. Whether you’re a new or current manager, supervisor or team lead, Continuing Education offers a flexible certificate program for front line leaders. Gain up-to-date strategies and tools to manage others and lead operations more effectively. Go online or call for information about this innovative program. 403.220.2866 • conted.ucalgary.ca/frontline

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 17 POV Lost in Translation Life Lessons Learned Working in Qatar

by Graeme Lauber illustrated by Kelly Sutherland

am a little ashamed of what happened on May 3, 2015. Communication was a particular challenge. Shortly after I I That was the day that my family and I left Calgary, our arrived, I hired Noura, born and raised in Qatar and able to help home for nearly 20 years, and flew to our new home in Qatar, me navigate the language and culture — and to help me navigate a small peninsula that juts out of Saudi Arabia into the Persian Snapchat. Noura made it her mission to teach me a few words of Gulf, where I was starting a new job as the director of market- Arabic. Several times a week, she would say to me, “Say XXX!” ing and communications for the University of Calgary in Qatar and I would try my lame best to repeat what she’d said. Then she (UCQ), a nursing faculty. would laugh and say, “That’s hilarious. Here, let me Snap you!” My shame comes from the fact that the day I moved my wife and she would share my ridiculous pronunciation on Snapchat. and three children 11,000 kilometres around the globe was the This happened every time I attempted an Arabic word. Every. first time I had ever left North America. I’d been to New York, Time. By the time I left Qatar, I was a minor Internet celebrity Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Seattle, but never to Paris for my terrible pronunciation. or Dubai or Delhi. In every place I’d ever been, I spoke the Incapacity with the Arabic language is a liability for someone language, could navigate the streets, understood the culture. I’d responsible for communications in an Arabic-speaking country. never had a cross-cultural adventure, so now I was jumping in On one occasion, UCQ decided to host an event for some of our with both feet and my patient spouse and long-suffering children alumni. I was responsible for the invitations to be sent by email were jumping in with me. with the subject line, “An Event for Nursing Leaders.” I asked The world I discovered in the Arabian desert was very differ- Noura to translate the invitation into Arabic. ent than the one I left behind on the Canadian prairie. Starbucks That afternoon, I was in a meeting when my phone began to didn’t have cream for my coffee, McDonald’s hamburgers tasted blow up. It was Ian, a member of the team who did not speak different and extreme cold was replaced with extreme heat (53°C Arabic, saying we had a serious problem with the invitation. An one day). But the differences ran deeper than consumer goods alumna had replied to our invitation, saying, “This invitation con- and climate; they extended to the ways society was structured, tains a word that the university should not use.” Ian couldn’t tell the ways people thought, the ways they communicated. which word was the problem, and Noura had gone home sick, so

18 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 POV

he took the invitation down the hall to an Egyptian national who and (through his daughter) made it clear that we were to make spoke Arabic. She reviewed the invitation and then pointed to the ourselves at home. Then he and his children left, and we were word we thought meant “leaders” and said, “This word means a left alone to enjoy the refreshments and the fire he had provided. man … who brings women … to other men … for sex.” Eventually, we wrote a note of thanks and left. I never learned Pimp. I had created a university event for pimps. his name, but his son’s name was Sultan, so, in my mind, the We sent the invitation to an outside translation agency to be man will always be Abu Sultan (father of Sultan). revised and sent a corrected version to our alumni. The next When I got to work the next morning, I asked Noura about morning, Noura just rolled her eyes at me, “That alumna was what had happened. She said, “Oh, you were on his land, just trying to make your life difficult! She knew what you were and, as a Qatari, he had a choice to make. He could either be trying to say!” reeeeeally nice, or shoot you.” Arabic is a language that has small marks around the main Within our Western culture, there seems to be two schools letters called diacritics. These marks change the pronunciation of thought when it comes to relations with the Islamic world. of letters or words (think about accents in French). The use of One says, “These people are very different from us! They have diacritics is generally reserved for specific, formal contexts and different values and ways of thinking and, therefore, they are they’re not typically seen in everyday Arabic. This means that our enemy!” The other says, “These people are basically the the reader occasionally has to understand which word is in- same as we are. They want the same things as we do — peace, tended based upon the context. The words “pimp” and “leaders” prosperity, security — therefore, they are our friends!” are different when the diacritics are included, but look the same in everyday usage. Noura explained all of this to me with a look of exasperation. We had been played, and I was realizing that I was a long way from home. Language was not the only difference between me and my ... what was important to me Qatari neighbours — there were also fundamental differences in the ways we thought. As a Canadian and as an Albertan, I am seemed trivial to them, and an individualist, but most Qataris are collectivists. For them, community and relationships take priority over the individual. what seemed essential to them This difference is so profound that it’s hard to grasp, let alone articulate. It’s the kind of difference that can influence a person’s often seemed optional to me. perspective on almost everything — professional goals, relation- ships, even the definition of “the good life.” One of the cultural expressions of collectivism in the Arab world is the majlis. Majlis can refer to people coming together for conversation, but it’s more often used to refer to a building where those people gather — a sort of reception tent or hall. My experiences in Qatar taught me an important lesson. The majlis is a place where men can hang out in the evenings to The people I encountered were different from me — what was drink tea, smoke, gossip and, ultimately, come to decisions for important to me seemed trivial to them, and what seemed the community. The majlis is the beating heart of the commun- essential to them often seemed optional to me. Abu Sultan ity and a symbol of Arab hospitality. and I probably lived our lives by different principles and had I’ve only ever been in a majlis once. It was a rainy and cold fundamentally different ways of thinking. We likely had very (14°C!) day in February. We had a day off and everyone in the different opinions about politics and community and family. family was bored, so we decided to go for a drive in the desert. Yet, in that moment when he had to decide whether to be After driving on the highway for a while, we thought we’d try a really nice or to shoot me, he chose compassion. At a mo- little off-roading in what looked to us to be a barren wilderness. ment when he had every right to be angry with me, he chose We’d only been driving for a few minutes when a Land Cruiser hospitality. came racing toward us over a distant rise. When it got close to Abu Sultan showed me that our compassion for one us, the Qatari driver rolled down his window. another is not based on shared beliefs or values, but on our “Come! Come!” he ordered. shared humanity. We are kind to each other not because we I tried to respond to him, but it was soon clear that he knew think the same things, hope for the same things or believe the about as much English as I knew Arabic, so we obeyed his orders same things. We are kind because we are all human beings. and followed him to a home nearby. Once there, he invited us He also showed me that there is a language of compassion into his majlis tent, where we were greeted by his daughter, who that is universal — a bit of fire on a cold day and tea and dates seemed to be about 12 and could speak English, and his son who in the desert (like we’d offer coffee and doughnuts on the was about nine. In the majlis, the man lit a fire for us, turned prairies). on the TV, and asked his servant to bring us tea and dates. He It seems to me that this message is more important than showed us some artifacts he had collected from the land around ever. U

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 19 Mind & Body

Nowhere in the world is punctuality more esteemed than in Germany. Be on time for every appointment, whether for business or social engagements.

Manners matter in all countries, but cultural missteps can be deal-killers or cause you to miss out on a meaningful connection. Here are 10 cultural faux pas to avoid while visiting 10 countries — many with which UCalgary has partnerships or shares business Remember that the left hand is considered unclean in the Islamic world. When travelling, even in many non- by Deb Cummings and Andrea Lee Morrow Islamic areas of Africa and Asia, use the right hand — especially when it comes to eating.

hewing gum. Giving a thumbs-up. Writing on business cards. Eating with your left hand. These gestures may seem entirely benign, but in some places they are frowned upon — some are even Try to make actually against the law — and what you don’t want is appointments between 10 a.m. and to get tossed into some foreign slammer when travelling 1 p.m. That’s because abroad. UCalgary’s International Relations Department meetings can often takes the understanding of diverse cultures, customs take longer than two and perspectives very seriously — which is precisely why hours and business may only occupy a they’ve created a beefy primer on how to avoid making small portion of this offensive cultural blunders. Take a peek. Just don’t pat time. Developing someone’s head while doing so, especially if you’re in India, a relationship on a where it’s considered offensive! personal level is key to conducting business in Mexico.

20 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 Mind & Body

The exchange of meishi or business cards is critical in Japan. Typically, business cards are presented at the beginning of a meeting led by the people who enjoy the highest status. Use both hands to present the card. When you receive a When an Indian smiles and wobbles business card, examine his head, which may look somewhat it carefully and avoid like a Western “no,” do not be fooled. writing on it. This gesture likely means “yes.”

The number eight is the luckiest Refrain from giving anyone a number, as well as six. Even numbers Never, ever, chew gum in thumbs-up, as it is equivalent to the are preferred (except four). Singapore — it is illegal. middle finger in the Western world.

hosts international visitors, university delegations, government officials and dignitaries each year. It also helps faculty and staff develop campus itineraries and organize meetings and seminars for international visitors and advise on various cross-cultural matters — culturally If you spot a Brazilian flicking their Like most things in America, appropriate gifts, forms of fingertips underneath their chin, greetings are quite informal. This is realize they don’t know the answer just a manifestation of the American address and country-specific to your question. belief that everyone is equal. recommendations. U

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 21 Dropping In

UCalgary Goes Global

1 In an effort to expand its global reach, the University of Calgary brought its internationally recognized and accredited nursing program to Qatar in 2007. Here’s a peek at its campus in the capital of Doha, the only post-secondary institution in Qatar to offer a degree in nursing

2 by Deb Cummings

I t’s 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday at the University of Calgary in Qatar's (UCQ) labour and delivery simulation lab. Besides the unusually early hour (for a university class) and day of the week, the ultra-mod- ern teaching lab could be in any North American city: a wireless birthing manne- quin known as Noelle lies under a sheet; an IV pump and blood pressure meter are clipped to a wall nearby; the typical charts, bins and equipment are at the ready. Explains Hamdeh: “There are many UCalgary (the only Canadian university). Even the students are in scrubs, just as challenges that face male nurses in Qatar In some ways, these schools are a study they would be in any Western-style hospital as most people expect only women to do in contradictions — Western ways of setting, but the similarities may stop there. this job. I’m here to change that — I’d like thinking and teaching in what remains Take a look in any of UCQ’s 27 classrooms to see the scope of nursing broadened to an Islamic monarchy, albeit a liberal and you’ll find a student body far more give all of us more opportunities.” one by regional standards. These foreign multinational than what we’d find in Cal- Daniah Mereno, a third-year student, universities represent broad opportun- gary — Qataris, Sudanese, Syrians, Indians, agrees, pointing out that the nursing ities for women in a nation where many Filipinos and a few Canadians on study field is “evolving in Qatar,” just one of families do not allow their daughters to abroad comprise this student population. the reasons she values the international travel overseas to study or to mix casually And, although you see male nursing student perspective UCQ provides as it follows the with men. Although UCQ is still relatively Abdul Rhman Hamdeh (in the photo), you Canadian curriculum. small, it, along with the others, could be a would never find a male nurse in any Qatari In Qatar’s rapid rise to modernity, the seedbed of change. hospital treating a female patient. It’s true country has taken a different approach to Now at the vanguard of Qatar’s health that 11 per cent of all UCQ’s 450 current post-secondary education. For those who promotion, UCQ’s nursing students and nursing students are male, but — apart wanted a Western education, but didn’t graduates practise in the community, in from an emergency — they are not allowed want to live abroad to get it, Qatar decided primary health centres, clinics, schools to treat any females, nor are they allowed some 20 years ago to import a host of and acute care hospitals. Accredited in on any “female” ward. They do, however, foreign universities. Two decades later, Canada and adapted to the local culture, receive maternity training and education Doha is home to degree-granting cam- UCQ’s curriculum provides students with at UCQ where they complete their required puses from top-flight universities such as the knowledge and expertise to become clinical hours in this simulation lab. Cornell, Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon and leaders in Qatar’s heath-care sector. Offer-

22 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018

3 ly whatourfuture dependsupon. other faithsand traditions maybeexact bines Canada’s curriculumbutreflects around theworld.Aprogramthat com UCalgary isinvestinginyoungpeople focused onchronicdisease,” shesays. as wellcoursesleadingtoacertificate offer moregraduateeducationcourses campus inCalgary. “Wewouldliketo Qatar’s healthpartnersandthemain significance ofcollaborationbetween Dr. DeborahWhite, PhD, explainsthe leaders intheprofession. program, designedtofurtherdevelop offers aMasterofNursinginLeadership from recognizedinstitutions—UCQalso program isfornurseswithdiplomas high schoolgradsanditstwo-year degree —thefour-yearprogramtargets ing twopathstoaBachelorofNursing In an increasingly globalized world, In anincreasinglyglobalizedworld, As forthefutureofUCQ, itsdean, U - -

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4 5 6 9 8 2 3 1 0 oice andcondition iscontrolled by ondition canbemanipulated by t Noelle, a female patient simulator whose tudents usethesameequipment they'll use t like anewborn, thisinfant patient aby Hal’s conditions are monitored by the ourth-year student AbdulRhmanHamdeh tion exercise, students document hird-year student DaniahMoreno says,

U postnatal complications from thesescreens. various instructors whocontrol thebirthor treat herlike areal "live" person. technology gives students theopportunity to lab. art training technology usedinthissimulation the companies that produce thestate-of-the- canwrap aroundcuff) herarm. sphygmomanometer (bloodpressure meter into thepatient simulator's armwhilethe in areal hospital:anIVpumpcanbeinserted present symptoms suchasjaundice. simulator, a.k.a.Baby Hal,criesalotandcan will useinhospitalsettings. type ofmodernneo-natal equipment students the changehewants to seeinhiscommunity." says anursing degree willallow himto "make challenging." perspective —balancingthetwo canbe curriculum, gives meavery international "being inQatar, yet studying from aCanadian the patient's condition inapatient chart. an instructor outsidetheroom. Noelle's v Noelle's c Mee B-Line MedicalandG S Jus B F T In asimula CALGARY ALUMNI 10

MAGAZINE FALL |WINTER 2018 aumard are just two of 23

Photos: Sadie Packer Unconventional Paths

KATALINA SZEWCZYK BCOMM’10

After perfecting her French while completing a Study Abroad program in Bordeaux, France, Katalina Szewczyk went on to work in Haiti and, most recently, Senegal. She has just wrapped up a two- year contract with JLB Expertises in Senegal’s capital city, Dakar, where she’s been a liaison, bridging the gap between the company’s headquarters in Marseille and a local team in Dakar.

Photo: Nathalie Guironnet

How did you use your UCalgary edu- What are you reading these days? A lot cation in this job? I used a lot of the soft of good works about Buddhism such as the skills, which are not always a given in a place Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, as well as What kind of work does JLB Expertis- like Senegal: (1) allowing everyone to have books by Simon Sinek like Start with Why. es do? They are a French company that a voice and making sure they are heard; (2) provides survey services for companies that recognizing individual achievements, but What skill would you like to master? Act- import food from all over the world into Af- reprimanding in private, never in public. ing, public speaking and telling jokes (that rica. Their role is to note all of the quantities get laughs!) in front of an audience. of sound cargo [bags of rice, for example], Advice for those who want to work and to record any losses or damaged mer- internationally? Take cultural differences What’s your claim to fame? I biked alone chandise [torn bags, wet bags, oily bags, very seriously, because they are real. For across Europe in 2012 as a fundraiser for etc.], as well as implement preventative example: Senegalese people are very ac- World Literacy Canada. Most difficult, and strategies that lessen the losses. customed to hierarchy and a more vertical also most rewarding, thing I’ve ever done. corporate structure — they want to know Afterwards, I made another dream come Why Senegal? It is the only country in who is whose boss and who is responsible true: I self-published a book about the trip. continental Africa that has always enjoyed for what. Greetings are always long and peaceful transfers of political power — no drawn out, and asking for what you want What could you give a 40-minute pres- coup d’etats, no revolutions, just peace. I is considered very rude. And they take ap- entation on with no preparation? How also wanted to live in a predominantly Mus- pearances and clothing very seriously. to travel and see the world on a very small lim country during a time when Islam, due budget via various volunteer programs and to its extremists, keeps getting such a bad What is the working language? French is networks such as couchsurfing, WWOOF, image. What I found in both the Senegalese the written language used for documents helpexchange, workaway.com and on. people and the Islam that they practise and for speaking with French/European here, is the value and presence of peace. clients; English for dealing with clients from What is something everyone should do India; and Wolof is spoken by all Senegalese at least once in their lives? Live or camp Why JLB? I was interested in the entire employees and throughout the day. It was for a time alone in the wilderness. food chain — from seed to plate. The grati- quite fun learning a bit of Wolof. fying part of the job was the preventative What movie title best describes your aspect; working with logistics companies What were your top three favourite life? Lost in Translation. Trust me … between and insisting on proper handling and stor- things to do in Dakar? The ocean, learning Polish, English, French, Spanish, Creole and age measures so that less food would be how to surf and the relaxed pace of life in Wolof in my head — sometimes, it’s a com- lost and damaged. Africa. plete mess in there. — Deb Cummings U

24 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 Unconventional Paths

DR. SHAWN WATSON BSC’08, PHD’13

As the CEO of Senescence Life Sciences (a biotech company aimed at combatting age-related cognitive decline), Dr. Shawn Watson is one of Singapore’s top 10 influencers in health care under the age of 40. Under Watson’s leadership, Senescence also won a spot on the list of Singapore’s Top 20 Hottest Companies to watch in 2017. Although this superstar spends most of his working hours pitching the company’s vision and closing deals in order to catapult it forward, it’s a tag-team effort. His wife, Tegan, BComm’11, manages the day-to-day business, investor relations and venture capital programs.

landscaping company while in high school maybe Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or one of counts … but grad school did give me the my other favourites, Bagan in Myanmar. opportunity to work independently, explore What is the genesis behind Senescence, topics of interest and leverage my creativity. What have been the biggest challenges and why Singapore? Dementia is a big in running this business? part of my family’s life, with many mem- What can we do to keep our brains healthy? (1) For every one person that believes in bers having succumbed to the disease Physical exercise, adequate sleep and a bal- you, there will be 500 that say you can’t do and several more who are currently living anced diet are all proven to make a tangible it; (2) Disruption is a “sexy” word, but no one with the condition. I don’t know if our difference in cognitive health and perform- really wants it because it requires change; (3) new methods will work, but, so far, things ance. Conversely, smoking, stress, lack of Leaving friends and family and moving to the are looking very promising! We based exercise, bad diets and too much alcohol can other side of the world isn’t easy. ourselves in Singapore because of access increase our risk of developing pathologies to capital, IP protection, ease of business, like Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Do you wish you had taken any other access to the Asian market, and it’s a great courses at UCalgary? hub for regional travel. How can Senescene’s natural supple- Marketing; specifically, something related to ments help stave off cognitive decline? social media. Even if you aren’t running your How did your seven years at UCalgary Our company is based upon the growing own company, using social networks like help you launch this biotech company? evidence that diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, LinkedIn are critical for making connections It was my supervisors — Dr. W.C. Wildering start mid-life (30s, 40s and 50s). Our goal is across the globe. and Dr. Petra Hermann — who gave me the to prevent, slow or stop the transition from confidence, curiosity and drive to launch the healthy brain aging into pathological aging What’s the best thing about expat life? company and move to Asia. Neither show- by using natural, targeted supplementation. Meeting people from all over the world. My cased academia as the only route to success perceptions of the world, happiness and after graduate school. Much of my entrepre- Do you have any advice for someone who priorities have changed dramatically since neurial success comes from their tutelage. would like to work abroad? Do it. Don’t moving here (and for the better). hesitate — just book the flight, strap yourself What was the biggest lesson you learned in and experience the world. You will have no Where do you hope you are in a decade? at UCalgary? Curiosity is only a benefit if regrets — only great learning experiences! Telling you that we have found a cure for you have the perseverance to search for the Alzheimer’s disease. answers. What is your idea of a perfect weekend in Singapore? One of the best aspects of What do you miss about Calgary? Did you think of yourself as an entrepre- Singapore is its location. Got a long week- Family, friends, Costco, camping and the neur while studying? Well, if launching a end? Let’s go to Bali, Thailand, Vietnam or Rocky Mountains. — Deb Cummings U

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 25 UCALGARY ALUMNI IS THERE

by Michael Sclafani 1

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he rise of the University of Calgary from a small T regional institution to an intellectual hub of global influence parallels that of Canada itself. As you are discovering in this issue, UCalgary’s outlook is now decidedly international — as is that of our alumni. Hailing from 153 countries, of UCalgary’s nearly To show how alumni bolster the 180,000 alumni, approximately 11,200 live abroad. What’s 3 community person-by-person with also exciting is realizing that our alumni body is larger, Michael V. Sclafani, their ideas and actions, we are telling more diverse (in age and race) and increasingly more Associate Vice-President, the varied stories of five graduates Alumni Engagement & Partnerships engaged than ever before. In fact, it was this appetite to who illustrate the five key pillars of our connect to their alma mater that prompted us at Alumni new alumni programs. Alumni career development, life-stage program- Engagement to expand our programming into five key ming, volunteer engagement, philanthropy and community-building play areas in which we invite you to participate. Whether important roles in their lives as they carry the shared experience of learning you’re a current student, a recent graduate or enjoying and growing at UCalgary into the world. retirement, we believe it’s never too early nor too late to As alumni, the way you engage with the University of Calgary will shift connect to UCalgary. as you progress through different stages of your life. We get it — and we My role as associate vice-president of Alumni Engage- are okay with it. Just as we help our students become global citizens in our ment & Partnerships connects me to a broad swath of highly connected world, we want you to see a path of engagement that people who care enough to get involved and build com- is unique and meaningful to you. Besides tailoring programs to suit our munity. Fundamentally, that’s what our role is — com- global community of alumni, we’ve designed our offerings to be nimble munity-building by connecting alumni to UCalgary and and scalable, to be available in real time or on demand. Whether you’re a UCalgary to alumni. And that’s precisely the theme we’ve business leader, an artist, a hockey coach or a public servant, I believe you’ll explored in the next five pages, something we’ve dubbed be impressed with our new direction in programming and proud of your “Wherever Life Takes You.” Consider it a road map of association to the University of Calgary. sorts for creating and advancing meaningful connections with alumni at all stages of life, anywhere on Planet Earth. Michael V. Sclafani @new2calgary

26 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU ALUMNI CAREER DEVELOPMENT

ALUMNI NETWORK CAN ENRICH CAREERS

IRYNA GASPARD, BA’15, BComm’15

he was 15 minutes early for her S Skype interview with a potential employer in Toronto. As Iryna Gaspard, BA’15, BComm’15, sat in her small Calgary apartment, all the preparation she’d done with UCalgary Alumni’s Career Program was 4 about to pay off. “I was nervous as this was my first real Skype interview,” says Gaspard, a great example of someone who has accessed the services offered by UCalgary Alumni to successfully secure a position within her field prior to relocating.

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HOW TO BOOST YOUR CAREER The UCalgary Alumni Career Program can help you excel at any stage in your life and career. It is chock full of programs and opportunities, 4 whether your aim is to accelerate your growth or plan for retirement:

She’d reshuffled the furniture, dressed • Webinars and workshops cover a wide range professionally, tweaked the lights so she’d be of topics. You’ll find a digital library stocked more visible and sat in the glow of her laptop with resources, including new content and in case the call came early. articles in the Career Success Series. Ever since high school, when she realized punch up facts and her achievements, which • You can connect with a career coach and meet she wanted to discover different parts of the helped enormously when Gaspard began one-on-one or virtually for sessions that world, Gaspard has focused on developing a applying for jobs. The coaching also included range from writing cover letters and resumes career that would allow her to do so. In fact, mock interview sessions. to job-search tips and interview prep. Want to the reason Gaspard chose to study at UCal- Gaspard also started to use LinkedIn do a mock interview? You’re covered. gary was in order to pursue a career that and began reaching out to Toronto-based would be flexible and global in nature. The UCalgary grads to get a better sense of the • If you are looking for new opportunities or potential to pair the university’s International city. “I could see how other people had made aiming to advance in your current role, the Relations program with her Bachelor of the move, which was really helpful,” says annual Grow Your Career Conference, brings Commerce sealed the deal. Gaspard, who wanted to join her husband, together tips, coaching and best practices “I was pursuing a dream,” says Gaspard, a software engineer, who had recently from top career professionals. now a senior accountant at MNP in Toron- relocated to Toronto. • Become a mentor — share your lessons learn- to. “Once I got my degrees, I needed help One thing led to another and, sometime ed with a current student or recent grad. finding the right position, and the Career after securing that job through the Skype Coaching program helped me do that.” interview, she landed at MNP, where Gaspard • Volunteer as a career development resource It also helped her prepare a rough draft now sees the potential for becoming an for students and fellow grads. of her cover letter and showed her how to expert in the field. — Mike Fisher

Advance your career at alumni.ucalgary.ca/careers

Left: (1) Photos courtesy Emma Walsh, BSc’18; (2) Ewan Nicholson; (3) Trudie Lee. Right: (4) Photos courtesy Iryna Gaspard, BA’15, BComm’15. UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 27 WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU LIFE-STAGE PROGRAMMING

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1 UCALGARY ALUMNI CAN HELP ANYONE AT ANY LIFE STAGE STEPHAN GUSCOTT, BSc’17

tephan Guscott, BSc’17, holds a taco “My goal through the work we do with in one hand and a beer in the other, Links and Drinks is simple — it’s about bring- S DEGREES OF watching with awe as UCalgary alumna Anila ing people together,” says Guscott, who, as a PROGRAMMING Lee Yuen does a kung fu takedown of her member of the Recent Graduate Committee master-instructor amidst more than 50 grin- (RGC), is empowered to do this work. “While Just as universities evolve, so too do alumni. ning alumni at a popular Calgary beer hall. as a student, there were tons of opportun- Our goal is to be relevant, timely and meaning- It was the first Links and Drinks pub night, ities to find your own niche. As a graduate, ful for a lifetime. Here’s what we’re doing: held in May of this year at The National it’s more ambiguous.” • Promoting pride, spirit and tradition, the Fu- on 8th. This new program’s aim is to bring Groups like the RGC help lay a path for- ture Alumni Network (FAN) connects current alumni together at fun events, inspiring ward for alumni to ensure there are ways to students to the alumni network. conversation while providing opportunities remain engaged with the university, so you to share experiences. always know there is a place for you as your • The Recent Graduate Program serves the Lee Yuen, BSc’06, who is CEO of the Cal- priorities shift through various stages of life. unique needs of alumni who have graduated gary Centre for Newcomers, was one of the While an undergrad, Guscott served as within the last 10 years. New programs like guest speakers at the inaugural event. She president and vice-president academic on Links and Drinks ease the transition from described her path to community service the UCalgary Students’ Union and on the student to alumna/us. and explained that her drive to challenge Board of Governors and General Faculties • We understand that raising a family requires herself led her to learn kung fu — and per- Council, and other boards and committees. a transition from me-time to we-time. From form it at Links and Drinks. Like many alumni, he’s facing a crossroads as summer camps that challenge the mind and After she and architect Mark Erickson, he decides how he wants to move forward. body to experiential learning excursions for BFA’07, spoke, two improv musicians (Patrick “Life-stage programming can be really the whole family, we’ve got Dinos of all ages Quinn, BFA’07, and Kristin Eveleigh, BFA’07) helpful because it’s about enabling us to covered. remixed their stories into hit songs from the navigate from one phase of stability in our • In the coming year, we will introduce the past few decades — adroitly bringing the lives to the next,” says Guscott, who’s plan- Alumni Lifelong Learners (ALL) program. past into the present, while showcasing their ning to return to school at some point for ALL will curate programs from across the uni- talents to the crowd. medicine. “At an event like Links and Drinks, versity of special interest to retired alumni. it’s inspiring to hear from grads who are Travel, health and wellness, and the arts are a at various stages of their own careers and few of the areas you’ll soon see covered. lives.” — MF

Discover more at alumni.ucalgary.ca/events

28 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT

MAKING VOLUNTEERING A LIFELONG PRIORITY 2 IS A WIN-WIN

WILMA SHIM, BSc’07, JD’10

hen Wilma Shim was 11 years Union for three years. Shim also earned a W old, she stood behind a bullet- bronze while on the Canadian powerlifting HOW TO GIVE BACK proof window while volunteering with her team at the World Juniors in France in 2007, mom at a shelter for victims of domestic went on to coach the Special Olympics Calgary In addition to providing valuable violence. That experience shook her in a way Powerlifting Team and is now board chair of professional development, studies show that still ripples throughout her life. Special Olympics Alberta. volunteering can reduce stress, combat “That moment at the Lurana Shelter Soci- Shim has also been a guest instructor for depression, keep you mentally stimulated ety in Edmonton shaped my future volunteer the Faculty of Law’s Trial Advocacy program and provide a sense of purpose. experiences,” says Shim, BSc’07, JD’10, a since 2013 and returns as a volunteer judge • Your volunteer opportunity can be lawyer, Crown counsel and mom whose busy, for debates. While she’s giving back to the tailored to your expertise or designed accomplished life stands as a beacon to university, Shim says she is widening her own to help you develop new skills. Watch anyone who believes they don’t have time to education. And she feels good knowing she’s for UCalgary’s soon-to-be-launched volunteer. “I wanted to make those children making a difference. Volunteer Hub that will list volunteer feel comfortable.” “I believe that volunteering with students has opportunities for alumni, university-wide. From that day onward, Shim has had a direct impact on the legal profession as the a remarkable impact at the University of law school trains future lawyers,” Shim says. • Tell us your passion and we will align it Calgary and throughout Alberta in the fields Volunteering as a UCalgary Alumni Asso- with an opportunity at the university. of sports and law. ciation board member and chair of the Arch Become involved in many ways from While Shim finds giving back personally Awards Committee, Shim encourages nomina- faculty-based and student-serving to fulfilling, she adds that volunteering with tions as part of community-building. community-focused. the university can also create professional “Reaching out to various networks has • Last year, more than 1,000 alumni served opportunities. As a volunteer, she maintains allowed me to link back to the university and in volunteer roles at the university. Some strong bonds with faculty members, has increase the connections between alumni gave a few hours, others a few months, access to a vast alumni network, and, through through their nominations,” says Shim, adding and some have been at it for years. her work with students, is connected with that there’s a bonus — she’s caught up with • In conjunction with National Volunteer emerging leaders in both her profession and people she hasn’t seen in years. Week, all alumni volunteers are her community. “Matching one’s interest to various volun- recognized and celebrated at an While a UCalgary student, she served as teer opportunities is a win-win for both sides,” annual reception in April. president of the Society of Law Students she adds. “Once you start volunteering, you’re and was an elected member of the Students’ hooked and will want to continue.” — MF

Volunteer with us at alumni.ucalgary.ca/volunteer

Credits: (1) Photos courtesy Stephan Guscott; (2) All photos on this page courtesy Wilma Shim. UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 29 WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU PHILANTHROPY

WHAT SPARKS PHILANTHROPY?

DR. JON FENNELL, MSc’95, PhD’08

hen Dr. Jon Fennell, then a W UCalgary geosciences student, tore open the envelope that he found waiting in his mailbox one day in the early 1990s, it sparked an idea that he and his wife, Heather, would ignite years later in the form of an endowment for other worthy students.

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They were both surprised and relieved to discover on that day that he’d just received the John O. Galloway Memorial Scholarship, worth thousands of dollars. “That scholarship was very timely for The multidisciplinary program is co-or- INVESTING IN us,” recalls Fennell, MSc’95, PhD’08, now a dinated between the Haskayne School of PHILANTHROPY principal hydrogeologist and vice-president Business, Schulich School of Engineering, Through UCalgary’s $1.3-billion Energize of consulting and water security at Integrat- and the faculties of Law and Environmental campaign, philanthropy is literally trans- ed Sustainability. “It felt nice to know that Design. It supports dedicated graduate forming our university. Here’s how: there are people out there doing this out students — who are looking to develop a of the goodness of their hearts. Heather, holistic knowledge of energy and environ- • Every gift, no matter the size, brings us [BComm’84,] and I are proof that it makes a mental management — in creating sustain- closer to our goal. Every donor reinforces difference.” Today, that $7,000 scholarship ability solutions. the reality that we all have a role to play. is awarded each year and continues to help While the couple has donated to other So far, more than $1 billion has been raised, fund master’s students at UCalgary’s Depart- causes in the past, they decided to focus thanks to the participation of more than ment of Geosciences. their efforts on one area at the university to 24,000 donors and more than 64,000 gifts. The Fennells decided to create the Fennell have a bigger impact and, as they say, pay • A gift to the university reaches far beyond Sustainability Graduate Scholarship in 2017 it forward. our campus, impacting communities through an endowment, which provides “We are passionate about sustainability,” throughout the world served by our $5,000 annually to full-time master’s-level Fennell says. “With this scholarship, we can research, our alumni and students. students in the Sustainable Energy Develop- give back to the university and make a ment (SEDV) program. difference in ways that matter to us.” — MF

Get inspired at alumni.ucalgary.ca/give

30 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU COMMUNITY-BUILDING

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BUILDING A 2 COMMUNITY USING HER DINOS ROOTS ANDREA ZABLOSKI, 3 BSc’08

ndrea Zabloski, BSc’08, shifted Calgary as a greenhouse gas technology A on her newly sharpened skates engineer at Devon Energy. “Now, like then, and listened to O Canada echo around the it’s all about teamwork. Everyone is pitching ALL TOGETHER NOW Olympic Oval, feeling the familiar excitement in to make this club a success.” The UCalgary alumni network is nearly 180,000 in her belly that would tighten into focus as The idea for the group emerged when strong. Join us at one of our events and you’ll the Dinos Women’s Hockey team readied to Zabloski, who still plays hockey in a recrea- feel the power of community. You’ll also dis- play in 2001. tional league with some of her former Dinos cover that many alumni are part of our growing “When you play a team sport like hockey at teammates, thought it would be great to number of official groups, formed around the collegiate level, your whole life is the team,” keep in touch with colleagues and class- shared experiences. Zabloski says. “ You finish the program and mates, along with anyone associated with • Four Affinity Communities currently exist in then all that connection seems to be gone.” the Dinos along the way. Calgary while several other regional groups The alumna and former Dinos right-winger “The benefits for everyone involved are in the works — from Vancouver and says she’s suiting up for UCalgary in a differ- include being able to develop their skills, Silicon Valley to NYC and Hong Kong. Learn ent way these days, as she begins to lead whether it is teamwork or communicating about existing groups, or how to form your the newly formed Dinos Women’s Hockey with others or problem solving,” she says. own; email: [email protected] Alumni Group. “Personally, working as the club chair allows The Dinos Women’s Hockey group is one of me to hone my leadership skills while doing • Alumni Weekend is an annual opportunity for numerous Affinity Communities established something I love.” the entire UCalgary community to participate with support from UCalgary Alumni. Groups Zabloski estimates there are 170 former in one-time-only experiences. This is one are also forming around shared degree, major, Dinos women’s hockey team members from weekend you’ll want to be on campus. ethnicity, geographic region, athletic or stu- the past 20 years who could be poten- • Presented by the UCalgary Alumni Associ- dent club involvement. tial club members. She and other board ation, the Arch Awards recognize remarkable “My experience playing hockey with the members will be reaching out across North alumni who have sparked change in their Dinos [from 2001-2005] and earning my BSc America to attract those interested in joining. professions and communities. helped shape the person that I am today,” One of her goals is to establish an annual says club founder Zabloski, who works in alumni hockey game. — MF U

Discover more at alumni.ucalgary.ca/community

Credits: (1) Kelly Hoffer; (2) Photo courtesy Andrea Zabloski; (3) Pablo Galvez/Dinos Athletics. UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 31 32 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 UCalgary’s strategic push towards global education stresses the benefits of diversity and inclusion in an aim to deliver excellence

by Mike Fisher

iversity, inclusivity and cultural insights are increas- the university has established Global Research Initiatives in China ingly important elements of a university education and Mexico with more than $57 million in external funding. as the world becomes more interconnected, says Dhruv Bhaskar, BSc’18, who came to the university as an inter- DDr. Janaka Ruwanpura, UCalgary’s vice-provost, international. national student from India in 2013, graduated from the Schulich Welcoming students from abroad, while creating opportunities School of Engineering this past spring with a perfect cumulative for others to widen their education with international experiences, GPA of 4.0/4.0 and secured three medals at convocation. is placing UCalgary at the leading edge of a global push to inter- “I chose to study at the University of Calgary because it is con- nationalize campuses, he says. sistently ranked among the top young universities in the world,” “We’re giving our students from many cultures a comprehen- says Bhaskar, who studied electrical engineering and now works sive education in a diverse and inclusive environment, so that they as an associate engineer at Semtech Canada Corp. in Calgary. “I can be successful,” says Ruwanpura, PhD. was embraced with an inclusive environment at the on-campus The number of undergraduate and graduate foreign students residence and the ethnic diversity led to great friendships and has risen steadily since the university’s international strategy was ever-interesting conversations.” formalized five years ago within the ambitious Eyes High strategic The university’s international strategy has received a handful direction, as has the size of foreign faculty and the number of of awards over the past two years, including the 2017 Institution- students going abroad on programs. al Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement — the In the first half of this year, there were more than 3,500 foreign first and only Canadian institute to be recognized by the Associ- students from more than 120 countries on campus within a total ation of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for one of its student body of 32,702. More than 1,200 students participate in institutional awards. exchanges, group studies and internships. This kind of community-building, at home and abroad, has in- “We have students who are sought the world over for their tal- creasing value and prestige for individuals, corporations and edu- ents and skills,” says Ruwanpura, describing the scope of UCal- cational institutions. As the world becomes more interconnected gary’s global opportunities. “We also have students who have come and the university expands its influence, the African proverb, “It to us as refugees. Plus, 38 per cent of our faculty originate from takes a village to raise a child,” becomes ever more important. other countries, and 48 per cent have at least one degree outside We’re illustrating the themes of diversity, inclusivity and cul- of Canada. And we are continuing to do better.” tural insights that inform the international strategy by telling The international strategy has boosted UCalgary’s strategic the harrowing journeys of three people from abroad — one from partnerships around the world, including a collaborative agree- Rwanda, one from Croatia and one from Egypt — whose struggle ment with the Kerui Group to offer research and training programs to escape war-torn countries have resulted in strong ties to UCal- for oil and gas professionals in China. Among other achievements, gary that inspire. »

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 33 INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

From war zones to Canada, three harrowing journeys ferry hope

by Mike Fisher

n a wide Rwandan field, six-year-old Jean-Claude Munyezamu kicked a soccer ball up and down, keeping it aloft with his bare foot. The ball was made with plastic bags, one inside the other, held with twine. A Idirt road led to his village at the edge of the city of Kigali, where the few cars and trucks that visited churned a trail of dust. A few boys straggled to the field’s edge, calling him, eager to play. Thirteen years later, soon after the plane carrying Rwandan president Photo: Derek Heisler Juvénal Habyarimana was shot out of the sky on April 6, 1994, men overran that field, raising machetes high to hack the screaming men, women and children they chased. Bodies began to pile, one upon the other, and, over the weeks and months that followed, the rot raised a stench that sickened 19-year-old Munyezamu when he returned to his homeland in the after- organization, Soccer Without Boundaries. It provides math of a genocide that still horrifies today. outreach programs to integrate immigrant and low-in- More than 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered in 100 days. Think come families and children into Calgary communities. about it — that’s a huge portion of Calgary’s population erased, one by one, “I call myself an escapee, not a survivor. There’s a dif- during springtime. Emotionally, the math is incalculable. ference.” The frantic butchering of Tutsis, an ethnic minority in Rwanda that in- Months before the genocide, Munyezamu fled cludes Munyezamu, was led by another ethnic group, the Hutus. On the Rwanda by crossing a bridge into Tanzania. He hid day the president died, a history of antagonism between the two groups, in a truck’s cargo bed, the smell of raw coffee beans in already boiling within the context of a previous civil war, fatally erupted. the sacks piled over him worsening in the heat. When Hutus raged for bloodshed. someone climbed the truck’s back, the driver he’d paid to get him across the bridge shouted something, then FLEEING, MOMENTS AWAY FROM DEATH the tent roof opened. “I’m going to live or I’m going “Survivors are those who ran from dogs and machetes, diving into marshes, to die,” Munyezamu thought, sucking in his breath, drinking rain for water, running for their lives,” says Munyezamu today, a right before the roof shut again. Then the truck lurched determined, humble guy who does widely praised work with his non-profit forward to freedom.

34 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 A UNIVERSITY WITHOUT BORDERS

More than 120 kids from 28 countries participated in a one-week soccer camp at the Glenbrook Community Centre, orchestrated by Jean-Claude Munyezamu. The final Soccer Without Boundaries game pitted kids against the Calgary Police.

“His sister, Claudine,

Over the next year, he worked as a volunteer at Somali blood pooling, one of the and her infant child hid and Sudanese refugee camps, establishing soccer pro- killers decided to spare grams for kids living makeshift lives. When the genocide her life, preferring, he told in a church, huddling flared, he was in Kenya. Watching it unfold on television, Daphrose, that she die he rushed back to Rwanda. “I returned because I felt of a broken heart. Mun- with others...” guilty and I wanted to do something,” Munyezamu says. yezamu’s brother, Em- “I felt maybe I had been selfish to go.” manuel, was also slain. Cousins were murdered, some maimed. His sister, Claudine, and her infant child hid in a church, huddling with others before SUFFERING HORRORS a last-minute rescue by UN peacekeepers. AND HEARTBREAK Munyezamu found his sister and made volunteer runs from Kenya to How many words are there for death? The Rwandan Kigali many times more, bringing supplies and ferrying families to safety. genocide depletes the list. Years later, he came to Canada, first to Montreal, where he had gained Before he returned to Kigali, Munyezamu’s aunt, permanent resident status (he was not a refugee), then to Calgary. Today, Daphrose, watched her husband, sons and daugh- Munyezamu continues his work helping refugee and immigrant families ters killed with machetes in her Rwandan home. The with his grassroots social programs, himself a married father of three. »

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 35 INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

During the Rwandan genocide, Munyezamu rescued these five boys and helped reunite them with their families in Kenya. They all now live in Canada. Photo courtesy Jean-Claude Munyezamu

LESSONS LEARNED INVALUABLE FOR UCALGARY RESEARCHERS UCalgary social work and sports program researchers work closely with Munyezamu, relying on him as an invaluable resource for examining a wide range of issues that face newcomers to the city and the country. “I draw a lot from the work of Soccer Without Boundaries as a ground-up model of violence prevention and community development,” says Dr. Régine King, PhD, a Faculty of Social Work associate professor who holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the National University of Rwanda. She sits on the federal Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Sec- urity advising the Ministry of Public Safety and its partners on violence prevention. “The lessons I have learned from Jean-Claude’s programs have been extremely useful in my contribution to the prevention of gang violence and terrorism and refugee resettlement.” Simon Barrick, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology under the supervision of Dr. William Bridel, PhD, has been involved in a pro- ject with WinSport that introduces 200 newcomer children, teens and adults to winter sports programs. “The lessons Jean-Claude has shared with me surrounding the need to design welcoming and sustainable sport programs for newcomers to Canada continues to inform my on- going research,” he says. Munyezamu has since returned to Rwanda. These days, this landlocked country has a burgeoning economy and a growing tourism sector. The field where, as a child, he kept a soccer ball aloft with his foot, where his friends called to play, where killers ran with machetes raised — it’s gone, buried under a Kigali suburb. Yet, “in that exact spot,” he says, there is a stark reminder. A national monument stands to honour genocide victims, marking for visitors what he and others can never forget. Photo:√ Derek Heisler

Supporters say study abroad programs push students Each year, more than 1,100 undergrads embark on a UCalgary Study Abroad program out of their comfort zones while experiencing another to experience a unique learning and potentially life-altering adventure. The range of culture, language, environment and education system. international learning experiences offered include student exchange programs with It teaches diversity and ultimately leaves them with partner universities, group study programs led by our faculty, internships, practica, cross-cultural communication skills necessary to international co-ops and research projects. Two of the most popular are student succeed in the global economy exchanges and the 30-plus faculty-led group study programs that attracted more than 500 students in the 2016-17 academic year. Seven past participants in UCalgary’s Study BY MARK WITTEN Abroad programs share memorable highlights, impressions and advice:

36 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 A UNIVERSITY WITHOUT BORDERS

MIROSLAV RELJIC RISES FROM WARTIME RUBBLE TO TOP BUSINESS COACH

Half a world away from Rwanda, a different ethnic con- flict was forcing people to flee their homes in the early- to-mid 1990s. The Bosnian War involving Serbs and Croats, and, within it, the Croat-Bosniak War, resulted in more than 100,000 deaths during myriad clashes. At 5 a.m. on Aug. 5, 1995, 19-year-old Miroslav Reljic raced outside his home wearing flip-flops, a T-shirt and his shorts, clutching a family photo album as he ducked and ran with others who were pouring into the streets. The thump of heavy shelling heaved the ground beneath his feet and smoke coiled around buildings. He trekked more than 140 kilometres on foot, from near Petrinja in Croatia to relative safety in Banja Luka, a city in Bosnia. Moving across fields, through forests and over half-destroyed bridges where split-up families roamed, shell-shocked and calling out, pleadingly, »

Miroslav Reljic’s journey that eventually led him to UCalgary was harrowing and heroic. Currently a career and life coach, he continues to volunteer his time to help refugees and newcomers.

Treat an exchange abroad as a chance to be anyone or anything. No one will have any preconceived notions about who you should or shouldn’t be, making the exchange the perfect opportunity to find a niche you’ve never known about. You’re in a unique environment where other exchange students are looking for new friends and new experiences. The usual rules for social interaction are replaced with fast, adventurous friendships where the monotony and obligations of day-to-day life don’t get in the way. My exchanges in Sweden and South Korea were some of the happiest months of my life and I was able to carry that joy and sense of adventure back home.” — Emma Walsh, BSc’18 (Cellular, Molecular and Microbiology)

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 37 INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

CLUBS FOR NEWCOMERS

BY MARK WITTEN

Some of Canada’s universities are experiencing a record number of international students on campus. In 2017, UCalgary had 2,143 international students enrolled in undergraduate programs and 1,676 in graduate pro- grams, making up 8.1 per cent and 26.9 per cent, respectively, of the overall student body. Many of those students seek out services from UCalgary’s Above: Miroslav’s UN refugee certificate which he says was his “one-way” passport to International Student Specialists. Canada. Right: Miroslav’s grandmother, circa 1960, taken in Bukovica, Croatia. Born in 1901, she raised 11 kids, lived through two world wars and the civil war of the 1990s. The path to study in Canada is long and twisty. If there’s a typical route, this is it: A student from abroad “Our home was burned applies for a study permit that often holding their crying babies — Reljic stepped allows eligible full-time students determinedly over the dead. down, raided, looted. some work options, on or off campus. “Whatever you wore, you wore because you Once that permit is approved a had to leave,” says Reljic, BA’04, now a top We hugged...” “proof of funds” document is then business, career and life coach in Calgary who sent to the international student who donates his time to help refugees and newcomers gain footing after they arrive as strangers must demonstrate that they, or their in a strange land. “There was hatred. If you stayed, you’d be executed.” family, have sufficient finances to He found his way to a UN mobile kitchen, where he washed dishes to help, asking everyone he met if they’d seen his parents, a slim hope given that hundreds of thousands of dispossessed cover tuition (often three times what people were on the move. Miraculously, a former schoolmate told him that she’d just seen a domestic student pays) and more. them walking on a nearby road. Night was falling. Reljic ran. There are other permits for co-op/ He saw two people ahead, walking very slowly. “It was a man and a woman, broken people, internship students and graduates my mother in a trance, my father, depressed,” Reljic recalls. “‘We’ve lost everything,’ they who want to stay and work in Canada said. ‘Our home was burned down, raided, looted.’ We hugged . . . the best hug I have ever can apply for a post-graduation work received. And then my father said — ‘you can always work to get things back, but, when a life permit that may be issued for up to is lost, that’s it.’ We were blessed to survive.” three years.

More resources at alumni.ucalgary.ca/ COMING TO CANADA WITH PURPOSE international-clubs Reljic’s story is threaded with resolve. His journey from his homeland to Calgary, where he became a consultant to companies including TransCanada, as well as an inspiration to new-

In my 10 years as a member or leader of the field school in Tanzania, I’ve learned that most students are fantastic to work with, are passionate and want to make a difference. I’ve also learned that it is much more rewarding to engage with community members in a very personal way than to just rush in to get some research data. The long-term relationships with the communities you work with have the most impact on your personal and professional life.” — Dr. Frank van der Meer, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

38 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 A UNIVERSITY WITHOUT BORDERS

comers, could be a textbook example of setting lofty goals and ambitiously reaching them. He landed in Canada as a refugee in 1999, barely able to speak English, but he doggedly learned, work- ing toward his UCalgary degree. He remembers faculty and fellow students as being kind and patient with his faltering language skills. “I learned it is not just a university, but a community is where we belong,” he says. “That’s what gives us a sense of security and purpose.” When a friend invited him to Bow Valley Square for an office job, he was thrilled. He dressed smart- ly, arriving early for an interview. He looked up at NINE LIFE LESSONS the downtown tower and then entered the building, bursting with confidence. There was a mix-up; he’d AN ALUMNA IS LEARNING misunderstood. He was led to a mop and pail. It was a custodian job. WHILE ON THE ROAD So, Reljic rolled up his sleeves, deciding he’d work WHILE SOME RECENT GRADS MIGHT DEFINE SUCCESS IN his way up by graduating and then becoming a busi- A SOLID PAYCHEQUE IN A JOB THAT’S CLOSE TO “HOME,” ness analyst in just such an office in five years. OTHERS, LIKE GENEVIÈVE LAURENT, BA’14, CRAVE ADVENTURE, He made that happen, and, step by laborious step, SOME DISCOMFORT AND A CHANCE TO REINVENT THEMSELVES he rose to become a go-to advisor and executive coach IN FAR-FLUNG LANDS with his eponymous consulting company, Reljic Coached, whose clients have included Warren Buffet’s BY GENEVIÈVE LAURENT company, Berkshire Hathaway. Reljic has volunteered with thousands of newcomers In the months and weeks leading up to my final days at UCalgary, I and immigrants in Calgary through various agencies stared blankly at the blinking cursor marker in the search engine that was because he believes in giving back to the country that meant to help me find a job. I was haunted by the small box that dutifully has given him the opportunity to realize his dreams. waited for me to make my query. I had no idea what to type into it. I had He is an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award win- successfully completed my Bachelor of Communications Studies degree. ner, among other honours, including being featured I was also armed with a diploma and loads of work experience — yet the at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 ping! I had hoped I’d hear when I found the perfect job hadn’t happened. in Halifax. Finally, I reached out to a mentor who suggested I might need to take on “My life has taught me that one thing is certain — a new adventure. A big one. It lit a match in my brain and I started looking change,” he says. into different options. Fast-forward a year and there I was — packed up “We have to let go so we can move on. I learned and bound for Ireland for what would become a life-changing decision these skills living through a war, but I honed them by that completely shifted my way of looking at my life. studying at the University of Calgary. Look at my story. You can get to where you want to go.” » Read more at alumni.ucalgary.ca/life-lessons

My favourite moment on the Hawaii photo safari experience was being able to watch the Milky Way rise up in the starry sky while being 9,000 feet above sea level on top of Mauna Loa. Our whole group shared this collective silence because we were all in awe that such an amazing phenomenon was happening. I will always remember this moment, along with all the new friendships and bonds I made with my classmates.” — Mariah Wilson, Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Urban Studies

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NOHA MOHAMED HEARS THE 3-A.M. KNOCK ON THE DOOR

Imagine it — you’re lying in bed in Cairo at 3 a.m. and an unbidden knock on your apartment door startles you from sleep. Your heart thumps as you scramble to grab your only weapon — a tennis racquet. The military tanks prowling the streets outside, the looting of stores, the rat-a-tat of machine guns and the throb of tele- vision news showing the revolution that would become known as the Arab Spring have ground you down. The knock stomps on your last frayed nerve. “My mother and I had pushed all our furniture up against the balcony windows,” says Noha Mohamed, BComm’17, recalling the upheaval against then-Presi- dent Hosni Mubarak that shook Egypt on Jan. 25, 2011. “Just opening the windows might get you shot by mistake. Outside was crazy. We didn’t want anyone breaking in.” They never found out who’d knocked on the door. It was one moment in a string of terrors that seemed surreal in what had been a peaceful, well-kept city neighbourhood. Cairo, where Mohamed grew up, had become a war zone. » Photo: Derek Heisler

The students met with people from rural communities in Peru and were able to see what their lives were like and the importance of sustainable water. They asked thoughtful questions, listened, learned, shared knowledge, shared food and visited community water projects. For many students, this was the first time they had visited a rural community and it can be an emotional experience when they see such hardships and fortitude. Co-leading the group study deepened my resolve to be a good global citizen and assist the people of Peru.” — Dr. David Bethune, PhD’15 (Environmental Engineering), co-leader of a group study program in sustainable water management in Peru

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Tune in to Noha Mohamed’s radio show, Calgary Arabia, on Red FM 106.7, every Thursday at 10 p.m., and discover more about Canada’s Arab community.

Doing an internship in Washington, D.C., was key to making contacts and gaining experience that have led me to where I am today. Studying in Seoul was the first time I had been abroad for any reason other than to travel. Being able to make a new city my own was such an exciting experience, particularly through exploring the city’s vibrant culture and nightlife with Korean students, as well as students from all over the world. Both experiences encouraged me to move abroad after graduating. Since then, I’ve lived and worked in London and in the South Pacific, and I think both of my study abroad experiences really impacted this decision.” — Lauren Babuik, BA’13 (International Relations)

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“I continue to get priceless support as an alumna...”

Mohamed had already planned to study business at UCalgary, where her sister was pursuing a degree in fine arts. She left Egypt that summer for Photo: Mona Ahmed Calgary and graduated within several years. Though she’d earned $12,000 in scholarships and had her sister in Calgary, she faced daunting challenges that can be common for international students. “The support I’ve received from the [UCalgary] Ca- “Adjusting to a new city, the cold weather, having no friends, still griev- reer Centre, the people I worked with in the market- ing the loss of my father [who died a few years earlier] and leaving my ing department, and the opportunities I got from my mother alone for a time in Egypt, it all took a toll on my mental health,” extracurricular involvement are all factors that have says Mohamed. “I got stuck in a loop of stress and depression.” helped shape the person I am today,” says Mohamed. “I continue to get priceless support as an alumna from the UNIVERSITY HELP COMES WHEN NEEDED Centre for International Students and Study Abroad, The first person to tell her that things were going to be all right was which helps the university community with immigra- Rasha Tawfik, an academic advisor at the Haskayne Career Centre. Then tion, refugees and Citizenship Canada.” Mohamed’s mom gave her a pep talk. She rallied herself and established successes — overcoming a difficult class, getting involved in the Alliances WHEN A UNIVERSITY WELCOMES in Marketing Club at Haskayne, securing a job in the Haskayne marketing OTHERS, THEY CAN MAKE A NEW HOME department (where she worked for three years before graduating) and, Words that carry heavy freight — courage, strength most important to her, starting Calgary Arabia, a popular radio show for and resilience — are tough enough to express in the local Arabic-speaking community on Red FM. actions during our lives. Most of us have not had to

I participated in the African and Development Studies Field School in Ghana in 2011. What I wish I’d known beforehand is also, I think, part of the reason that I went: some of the most beautiful learning wasn’t in the classes I took but in the unplanned, in-between moments, like spending a night in a tree fort in Mole National Park. I knew that’s why I wanted to go, but I wish I’d been intentional about keeping that perspective every day.” — Brittany Vine, BA’14 (Development Studies)

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A GIFT OF GLOBAL IMPACT

FEBRUARY 22, 1968. A TEENAGE BOY STEPS OFF THE PLANE IN SASKATCHEWAN AFTER A LONG FLIGHT FROM HONG KONG. HE HAS NEVER SEEN SNOW IN HIS LIFE

BY BARBARA BALFOUR For 3 ½ years, Noha Mohamed has been hosting Calgary Arabia, on Red FM. Here, she’s interviewing attendees at the Urged to leave the country by family members concerned about Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival. escalating political riots — “You have to go, it’s no longer safe for you to stay here,” they tell him — he’s on his way to St. Joseph’s boarding school in Yorkton, where he will spend the next two years alone, and then the bear the hard weight of history in a war-torn coun- next four years after that struggling to pay for university. try, where just staying alive is a challenge. Yet, three The 16-year-old from a humble Chinese family has no one to guide him. remarkable people connected to the University of Cal- And, even though he speaks English, the language barrier, culture shock gary — one from Rwanda, one from Croatia and one and harsh winter weather are an unbearable combination. So, too, would from Egypt — escaped from armed conflicts in their be every Christmas and Easter to follow, spent in a deafeningly silent homelands and, in their journeys, ferried hope. The dormitory with instructions to help himself to whatever he could find university has been a landing place, of sorts, for their in the freezer. starts and triumphs. We in Canada are the better for it, the beneficiaries It would be just the beginning of real estate tycoon Joseph Leung’s long of each of their victories. They give back more than they and difficult journey — one that would see him battle hepatitis A alone can possibly take. The question of why here and at what in the hospital, work day and night to make tuition payments at the cost, often raised like a flag, invites a compassionate University of Alberta, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering, answer. They are here for the same reasons any of us and face the stomach-wringing stress of never knowing whether he might be. They seek to improve their lives and help could make it financially through another year. And yet, now 66 years their loved ones, and, by doing so, they enrich ours. U old, Leung says he wouldn’t have changed a thing about his life. »

Studying abroad has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. During the semester in Sweden, I faced numerous fears, gained independence, became more culturally aware, and met amazing lifelong friends. I feel I have gained a lot of new insights, not only about the world, but about myself and who I want to be.” — Beth Verhelst, Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Communications and Media Studies

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GLOBAL IMPACT continued... “I was able to pull myself out of that box, to think outside of it and to meet amazing people along the way,” he says in a telephone conversation from Portugal, where he has been conducting business for more than two decades as president and CEO of Marquis Communities Development Inc. and Environcon Systems.

That journey has included earning an MBA in the U.S. with the assistance of a scholarship, raising two daughters with his wife of 28 years, Cindy, and moving to Calgary, which (L-R): Vice-Provost (International) Janaka Ruwanpura, UCalgary he has called home since 1979, and where he launched President Elizabeth Cannon and major donors Cindy and Joseph Leung. his career as part of the design team that worked on Gulf Canada Square. “If I had financial support while going through engineering school, I would have “Canada gave me an opportunity to learn and to earn. done so much better. That’s why I want to dedicate this gift to students with And now, it’s my turn to give back,” Leung says. financial needs, so they don’t ever have to worry like I did.”

Leung and Cindy recently gave a $600,000 gift to During Leung’s two-term tenure on UCalgary’s Senate, he sponsored 30 the University of Calgary that will provide a full four- engineering and seven Faculty of Environmental Design students to come to year scholarship to international students from China Portugal and work on the Alta de Lisboa, the largest urban renewal project to who are in financial need. The gift will also provide ever take place in Europe. $20,000 in scholarship funds annually to students in “When the students come back and say, ‘This is what I learned, and this is what Calgary who wish to study abroad in China, Macau and I’d like to pursue further in that part of the world,’ I’m happy with that,” Leung Hong Kong. says. “Quantifying success is never easy. I know from experience that it might “If you have that head start of travelling to another take a few years to see the results or longer.” country and getting exposed to different cultures and For Leung, his first taste of success was when he finally called his parents the ways of life, you’re one step closer to working together day he attended his convocation ceremony at the U of A. “I couldn’t afford to well in the future,” Leung explains. “As the second largest call home. It was $3 a minute back then, and you had to pay for a minimum of economic power of the world, there are many business three minutes,” he recalls. opportunities between China and Canada. This gift will be good for our students, but it’s also good for our future. “But, that day, I did call . . . to say, ‘Dad. I’m graduating!’” U

UCALGARY ROLLS OUT A WELCOME MAT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

BY MARK WITTEN

With a federal goal of doubling the number of Canada’s international students events. More than 3,000 students from at least 60 countries used this service by 2022, most universities are trying to match their recruiting efforts with last year. ucalgary.ca/welcomecentre robust programs to help students settle. Here are a few of UCalgary’s most CAMP LEAD A two-night trip where international and Canadian students can popular and practical resources: learn leadership skills, meet new friends and enjoy outdoor adventure activities. GLOBAL FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM International and Canadian students meet ucalgary.ca/leadership/leadership-development/camp-lead twice a month from September to April for activities such as learning to skate at UCALGARY MEET-UP The International Student Services (ISS) office organizes the Olympic Oval, going to a Flames hockey game, potluck dinners and more. volunteer-led Meet-Up groups of eight to 10 students for fun activities ranging The kickoff day trip to Banff and Lake Louise in September is always a big draw, from escape rooms to summer festivals and soccer. ucalgary.ca/leadership/ attracting busloads of students. ucalgary.ca/iss/programs/globalfriendship student-life/ucalgary-meetup GLOBAL FAMILIES PROGRAM This family-friendly program for international USPEAK GLOBAL International and Canadian students meet once a week to students offers fun events, from laser tag and trampoline parties to Minds in learn or practice a language with a first language speaker and teach their own Motion science labs for kids. The staff have childcare training, so parents can language. ucalgary.ca/iss/programs/uspeakglobal socialize and get to know each other during conversation cafés while their kids play. ucalgary.ca/iss/programs/globalfamilies INTERNATIONAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM connects new international students with current UCalgary students who provide peer advice about adapting to WELCOME CENTRE This summer service from late July to early September Calgary and the university. ucalgary.ca/iss/programs/mentorship supports international and other new-to-Calgary students with issues like housing, setting up a phone plan and navigating the city, as well as social For more resources, visit alumni.ucalgary.ca/international-resources

44 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 GET YOUR GEAR HERE!

Don’t save your alumni gear for game day. Show your red-and-gold style with our first-ever line of alumni merchandise — all year round. From golf shirts and hoodies to Swell water bottles, shop online at calgarybookstore.ca or drop by the bookstore.

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UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 45 Introducing the 2018 Recipients of the UCalgary Alumni Arch Awards

Meet five outstanding alumni who have not only demonstrated extraordinary devotion to their careers, but also to the ideals of the university. Although we toasted them at the Sept. 8 Arch Awards gala, their stories bear repeating

by Deb Cummings photography by Adrian Shellard

Since 1985, the University of Calgary MD’87 (International Career Achieve- Alumni Association has honoured a select ment award); Dr. Rowan Cockett, BSc’11 group of extraordinary alumni who have (Early Career Achievement award); Lisa built remarkable careers and made ex- Dixon-Wells, BPE’84, BEd’87, MEd’97 ceptional contributions to their local and (Community Commitment award); and global communities. Since its inception, Rahim Sajan, BSc’01, BEd’03 (Alumni the Arch Awards have been presented to Service award). 69 individuals, all of whom demonstrate This year’s diverse cohort includes exemplary leadership in an increasingly the founder of TEDxCalgary and the complex and globalized world. Such teacher-entrepreneur behind one of outstanding Arch Award recipients have Canada’s most successful anti-bullying included: astronaut and former UCalgary programs. It also includes the under-30 Chancellor Dr. Robert Thirsk, BSc’76; Java entrepreneur who launched a geosci- programming language creator Dr. James ence software-tech company, and an Gosling, BSc’77, Hon. LLD’99; first Indig- innovative cardiologist who developed enous graduate and lifelong academic, the Guyana Program to Advance Dr. Vivian Ayoungman, BEd ’70; Olympic Cardiac Care. There’s also an extraordi- speed skater Kristina Groves, BSc’04, nary scientist-researcher whose work MSc’15; and the founding president of the in treating brain cancers and neuro- National Music Centre, Andrew Mosker, degenerative diseases has altered the MA’12. course of medicine. What they all have This year’s Arch Awards recipients in common is they embody spirit, drive, exhibit the same talent, devotion and determination and teamwork — and unbounded enthusiasm as their prede- they inspire us all. That’s why we’ve cessors. They are: Dr. Sam Weiss, PhD’83 asked the winners to share a critical (Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime moment that launched them on their Achievement); Dr. Debra Isaac, BN’84, path to innovation and success.

46 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 Arch Awards

we’d always be chasing after it. We’d nev- er get ahead of it,” he says. It turns out Hotchkiss, Hon. LLD’96, shared not only Weiss’s love of the puck (Weiss was a right-winger on a men’s league), but also his vision, and backed it with an initial $5-million donation (that, eventually, grew to more than $50-mil- lion from the Hotchkiss family). Today, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute DISTINGUISHED (HBI) is one of Canada’s top research in- ALUMNI AWARD stitutes and is responsible for advancing seminal contributions such as endovas- LIFETIME cular treatment that can dramatically ACHIEVEMENT improve patient outcomes after an acute ischemic stroke (a.k.a. the ESCAPE trial), and that a common acne medication, Dr. Sam Weiss, PhD’83 minocycline, can slow the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS). Scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health — “Frankly, meeting Harley changed my Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) life; it was like discovering a long-lost soulmate,” chuckles Weiss, who, besides being hockey player, is also an avid hiker. “We connected on so many levels — from ure, he may have received his “We were at a breakfast back in 2003 sports, to the principles of why we are on doctorate in chemistry from at the Chamber of Commerce when this earth, to bringing like-minded people UCalgary only five years after Harley and I started talking hockey and together, to breaking down silos.” S completing a BSc at McGill University and, couldn’t stop,” recalls Weiss. “At some Team science is at the root of Weiss’s in 1992, was the first to discover neural point, I told him I had a presentation that passion for collaborative research — the stem cells in the brains of adult mammals. I wanted to show him, but he didn’t really risky, freewheeling type that, ultimately, And, yes, he has advanced research in want to see it — he just wanted to talk drives a collective experience toward the areas such as multiple sclerosis and brain about hockey and he wanted me to leave people you serve. tumours; led a team of 127 faculty mem- him with an idea. Just one. Just as you might form a cohort of bers, 300 neuroscience trainees and 250 “That idea was based on my vision of all-star players, Weiss and his colleagues professional staff as founder and director a model that would bring the community at HBI recruited more than 50 new inves- of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute; and has together with the academic brain health tigators over 12 years, enough to feel like published a staggering 110 peer-reviewed group that is at the University of Calgary. “we were constantly renewing, building journal articles and nine book chapters. In other words, we’d go from the ivory through the draft,” says Weiss. “That’s But that doesn’t mean Dr. Sam Weiss is tower to the pavement.” where I believe our future is, with young so scholarly that he would never stoop to Weiss likens the university’s investiga- investigators trained in the most modern use a sports analogy or metaphor. tor-initiated, discovery-based research as approaches. They come in with the In fact, this year’s down-to-earth re- the “light bulb,” but stresses the “spark” broadest of ideas and they’re not tarred cipient of UCalgary Alumni Association’s is rarely accomplished in isolation. “The with years of battling bureaucracies and highest honour attributes one of the goal line is the team approach, and it the need to establish a hierarchy. most influential and gratifying relation- became obvious to me where the puck “If you give people a runway [OK, his ships of his life — with Harley Hotchkiss was going and that, if we continued to affinity for metaphors stretches beyond — to a chat about hockey. operate as individuals, and not a team, sports], they will take off.”

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INTERNATIONAL CAREER ACHIEVEMENT Dr. Debra Isaac, BN’84, MD’87

Co-founder of the Guyana Program to Advance Cardiac Care (GPACC), a global health training environment that benefits UCalgary learners and faculty and those in Guyana; cardiologist with a subspecialty interest in echocardiography, heart failure and cardiac transplantation

t was the baby pictures that always got to her. Seven years ago, photos of blue I and swollen tots were a bellwether. But now, when Dr. Debra Isaac, receives images of sickly babies from Guyana, the cardiologist and clinical professor at UCal- gary is optimistic. “Today, our well-trained team can get patients to a point where they can have surgery and they will likely continue to grow and develop,” she says. Like so many other paths to success, Isaac’s swerved one day and that sharp detour changed the course of her life. It was 2011 when a colleague asked if her teach echocardiography to a medical rate of cardiac disease. team at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute team at the Georgetown Public Hospi- If you were to visit Guyana today, a could donate a cardiac ultrasound tal. And so began the 12-week training tiny country of less than a million people, machine to a public hospital in Guyana endeavour that has expanded into an you’d find trained nurses, doctors, where this surgeon/researcher was eight-month program with ongoing pharmacists and echotechnicians — all originally from. mentorship and learning. According to experts in cardiac care. Many have come Intrigued, yet somewhat skeptical, various colleagues, Isaac is a rare breed to Calgary’s Foothills campus to train Isaac took a portable echocardiogram — a brilliant cardiologist and inspiring and study for short periods, just as our machine to Guyana, only to realize her mentor who is relentlessly persuasive. medical students, fellows and residents fears were well-founded. So much so that she was soon able to have practised there. “I remember having dinner with convince Calgary-based medical experts But Isaac can see a day — and it’s not Guyana’s minister of health when I told to take their holiday time in Guyana in far off — when the team in Guyana will him there was no point in leaving this order to teach courses which eventually be completley independent. Until that machine in his country when nobody led to the formation of today’s Cardiac happens, Isaac remains thrilled when she had been trained to use it,” Isaac says. Intensive Care Unit. does rounds in Guyana and hears “guys “There might be a nice photo of us and During her 30-plus visits to one of talking about their patients and using the machine in the paper the next day, South America’s poorest countries, Isaac specific therapies and making the right but we would not actually be helping has also transported numerous donated diagnoses. They still phone occasionally anybody.” echo machines from Canada to Guyana, and ask us to look at an echo, but 90 per By the end of that meeting, Isaac had where genetics, poor diet and infrequent cent of what they do, they are doing on agreed to design a program that would exercise contribute to an abnormally high their own.”

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EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT Dr. Rowan Cockett, BSc’11 Current director of cloud architecture at Seequent Ltd.; co-founder 3point Science Inc. and SimPEG; founder of Visible Geology

able, what’s unusual is his source of moti- vation. There’s a theme that knits together all of this über-achiever’s innovations, and that’s community-building. Whether it’s boosting a classmate’s ability to see a 3D model or assisting peers with web-based textbooks, Cockett is not interested in hoarding his intellect and insights. Rather, he’s sharing them widely and generously with his peers, striving for transformative change while building a community of innovators — in other words, Cockett is innovating for scale. Or, as one of his Arch Award nomina- tors so aptly put it, Cockett “innovates to enable.” By altering the paradigms and work practices in producing geoscience tools, the former student — who changed his major three times — has introduced very scientist hopes for a only see and understand a geologic prob- an innovative way of working that allows “Eureka” moment — that jolt lem, but do so in a matter of seconds. new communities to form. Taking an of sudden insight when a Visible Geology, now considered the idea from a UCalgary classroom, he has E discovery becomes clear. For 29-year- most widely used educational tool for influenced the global geoscience educa- old Dr. Rowan Cockett, that moment geologic modelling in the world, led tion stage, catapulted these ideas into a was borne out of frustration when one Cockett to help power up another open- business, and built a successful product of his undergrad professors claimed source software platform for geophysics, that was sold to an international company that “structural geology is hard and only SimPEG, and then — while working on for whom he is now driving a global some of you will ever be able to see the his PhD at UBC — he co-founded 3point cloud strategy. 3D visualization model. Science Inc., a web-based geoscience Where, exactly, does this relentlessly “I remember thinking, ‘that’s just visualization and communication com- collaborative spirit, this drive to organize silly,’” says Cockett, who would go on to pany. Less than three years later, Cockett people across multiple disciplines and become a Vanier Scholar and a Killam and fellow founder, UCalgary associate countries, originate? Laureate. “It wasn’t their brain that was professor Dr. Adam Pidlisecky, PhD, sold “Well,” says Cockett, thoughtfully, “a stopping them but the visualization tool that company to Seequent Ltd., a world role model in that space would have to that was the problem.” leader in visual data science, for whom be my mom [Dr. Polly Knowlton Cockett, And, like so many impatient entrepre- Cockett now bears the title of director of PhD’14]. She is a big community activist neurs, Cockett questioned the existing cloud architecture. who was, and still is, involved in all sorts model and did something about it. He While all of Cockett’s many achieve- of environmental initiatives. And I had a built an interactive software program, ments are ridiculously impressive and the lot of inspiring science teachers along Visible Geology, enabling students to not speed at which he works is quite remark- the way.”

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three former teachers will never change the two per cent of people who bully. “Our focus is on the silent majority who don’t COMMUNITY know what to do,” she says, explaining the COMMITMENT K-9 program that reaches about 65,000 individuals a year involves a full cultural shift that equips not only students, but Lisa Dixon-Wells parents, teachers and other stakeholders with bystander training and a code of BPE’84, BEd’87, MEd’97 conduct — as she explains it, a “full tool Founder and executive director of the bully-prevention program, belt of skills.” Although the message is grade-specif- Dare to Care; former captain of the UCalgary Dinos swim team from ic, it never takes a sharp detour: Everyone 1981-84; won 36 Canadian national championship gold medals has the right to feel safe and welcome in their schools and communities. That may sound pat, but experts such as Dixon-Wells (who was a teacher and ow many of you would like up in the wrong group, or they want to school counsellor before she created Dare to apologize to someone? project a certain image, and they carry to Care) believe the alarming numbers: asks Lisa Dixon-Wells, that guilt with them. Sometimes forever.” 150,000 Canadian students miss school Hlooking at a gym packed with hundreds Nobody know this better than the each day because of bullying; seven out of of students at St. Ambrose School. They three-time alumna and former Dinos 10 Canadian youth drop out of sports by line up obediently and the roster of 16 swim-team captain. Dixon-Wells grew up 13 due to a bullying culture; 60 per cent of questions that focus on bullying begins. across from a boy who was tormented kids who bully and do not get intervention The rules are straightforward: if the in school. It was only when he was in her have a criminal record by the time they question applies to them, they pass over Grade 8 homeroom that she realized reach their early 20s. the centre line — close to 100 per cent the severity of the bullying, yet she did Besides impacting students, Dix- cross over at some point. This group nothing to stop it. on-Wells has recently expanded the “power shuffle” activity — just one of “In fact, I would giggle when they program into amateur sport, beginning many in the program that has impacted pushed him down the stairs,” she admits, with an area that is near and dear to her students at more than 1,200 schools in slowly. “I so wanted to be part of the ‘in’ — the University of Calgary Swim Club. eight provinces — is a powerful cue that crowd that I was part of the silent ma- Since last September, she has facilitated illustrates how pervasive the culture of jority.” According to Dixon-Wells, some workshops for more than 600 youth bullying actually is. 79 per cent of school-age kids witness swimmers, 40 varsity swimmers, 38 “What gets us every time is the lineup bullying, but do nothing to stop it. coaches and 750 parents. that forms behind certain people and To this day, she wonders what, exactly, “Wherever we are, whether it’s a class- the tears of guilt that follow,” confesses happened to that boy — now a mid- room or a swimming pool, we need to be Dixon-Wells, who created the Dare to Care dle-aged man. able to identify bullying behaviours before anti-bullying program 18 years ago. “We She’ll never know, but what Dix- they escalate,” she says, “so we can deal are not in schools to shame anyone, but on-Wells does know is that the program with them quickly and effectively. We all we do know that lots of people get caught she conceived and now operates with need to be accountable.”

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hen it comes to critical moments of personal safety, you could say W Rahim Sajan has an unusual knack for viewing the world through oddly tinted glasses — or, in this case, goggles. How the co-founder of TEDxCalgary, who came to Canada from Tanzania as a 15-year-old, remembers it — “it” was the moment he realized he was “home.” Sajan had just graduated with his second degree in education from UCalgary when ALUMNI he decided he would ride a motorcycle SERVICE to Quebec City where he’d enrolled in a one-month French-immersion course. With a sleeping bag, tent and clothes Rahim Sajan, BSc’01, BEd’03 bungee-strapped to his bike, he wob- Work-experience teacher at Discovering Choices High School; bled off, leaving his worried parents in co-founder and curator of TEDxCalgary; UCalgary senator; Calgary. “That first night, somewhere near the adviser to the Dean’s Talk with the Cumming School of Medicine border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, I pulled off the road and took a deep breath,” Sajan recalls, taking another deep breath in his downtown Calgary would have been impossible to obtain has produced more than 100 TEDxTalks office as though he was back on the in Tanzania.” that he estimates has reached more than prairies, inhaling wild sage and sunsets. “I That journey proved to be not only 100,000 people. realized I didn’t have a place to stay that physical — Sajan rode his Honda GL 5 all One of Sajan’s guiding principles that night but, oddly, I felt perfectly safe. That the way to Newfoundland that summer catalyzed the formation of the Dean’s was the moment I realized I was home — but an inner journey that has paved his Talk and TEDxCalgary is the need to and that home was no longer Tanzania, teaching career with layers of commu- serve the community around you. but Canada. nity service that began with a two-year “I want to help create a civil society “For the next five nights, I’d just pull teaching post on the Little Red Cree where motivated citizens get things off the highway, pitch my tent, sleep like Nation and has evolved to coaching uni- done,” he says, confessing that his favou- a baby and know that I would never get versity researchers and faculty members rite Ted Talk is “The Danger of a Single robbed,” says one of UCalgary’s current into becoming riveting storytellers as Story” by Nigerian novelist Chimamanda senators, who cites the Aga Khan as a part of a program in the Cumming School Ngozi Adichie. “I started thinking about personal hero. “That doesn’t happen in of Medicine called the Dean’s Talk, as that, and wondering how we could other places — and that, really, was the well as mentoring international students. convene a space that would allow people beginning of my journey when I realized How most of us know Sajan, however, to collect and share stories, during those I wanted to give back to my new home is for his dynamic role as co-founder of long days on the back of my motorcycle that had just given me an education that TEDxCalgary, which began in 2009 and … when I knew I was home.” U

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7 Who says learning stops after convocation? UCalgary Alumni reconnect all over the world for various networking and educational events. Learn about upcoming events at alumni.ucalgary.ca

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52 UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 Helping to protect your family’s future

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1. ALUMNIGHT Scores of newly minted grads attended June’s celebration at Trolley 5 Restaurant & Brewery.

2. HONG KONG ALUMNI RECEPTION UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY ALUMNI (L-R): Wendy Tam, UCAAHK (Alumni Committee Member); Janaka Ruwanpura, Vice-Provost (International); Michael Sclafani, Assoc. VP, TERM LIFE INSURANCE PLAN UCalgary Alumni; Elizabeth Cannon, president and vice-chancellor of UCalgary; Jeff Nankivell, Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao; Ron Hoffmann, Alberta Sr. Representative for the Asia Pacific Basin; n Preferred group rates for UCalgary grads Ramsey Pui, Executive Director of Pak Lok Chiu Chow Restaurant. n Up to $250,000 in coverage for you and 3. IDEA EXCHANGE, OTTAWA your spouse (L-R): David Patterson, BKin’96; Dr. Keith Yeates; Carolyn Emery, MSc’99. n No medical exam normally required 4. LINKS AND DRINKS to enroll This new alumni program launched last May at The National on 8th. n Coverage can’t be cancelled due to health changes 5. IDEA EXCHANGE, WASHINGTON, D.C. (L-R): President Elizabeth Cannon, BSc (Eng)’84, MSc’87, PhD’91; Visit our NEW website Athar Malik, BSc’86; Walter Suarez and Sadia Khan, BHSc’08. Get a QUOTE or APPLY for 6. IDEA EXCHANGE, CALGARY INSTANT coverage1 (L-R): Geoff Cumming, BA’74, Hon. LLD’16, chats with Brenda Mackie at the Healthy Aging presentation. canadalifeinsure.ca/ucalgary

7. MATHISON HALL (L-R): At the announcement of a $20-million gift from Ronald P. Mathison were students Nik Golob BA’19; Ally Penic, BA’18; and Tiana Harding, NA’20.

8. ALUMNI WEEKEND – DUNK THE DEANS Compete details of coverage, including any limitations or exclusions that may apply, are set out in the Certificate of Insurance provided on enrolment. Please read (L-R): Dean of Kinesiology, Dr. Penny Werthner, PhD, and Dean of Science, it carefully and keep it in a safe place. 1Instant coverage depends on your answers to Dr. Lesley Rigg, PhD. the health questions on the online application. Underwritten by: ™Canada Life and design are 9. / 10. CAPS OFF TO YOU trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company. (L-R): Hanan Abubakar, BSc’18, with family and friends at grad; Dr. Sarah Barclay, BSc’09, PhD’18, toasted the big day with her family. U

UCALGARY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2018 53 Where Are We?

C’MON, I KNOW YOU WANT TO JOIN ME. Figure out my whereabouts and you could win a $70 gift certificate from the University of ou might call me a Renaissance wanderer. I see life as a Calgary bookstore, which might come in Y constant journey and a perpetual education. At 30-some- handy if you’re hungry for more details. thing, I’ve tackled 100 destinations. While I could easily be Visit: go.ucalgary.ca/alumni-where-are-we described as having “been there and done that,” I always hanker for something new. A dozen trips a year for several weeks apiece is the norm. drama, archaeology, geology — you name it. I’ve even got a soft spot I pride myself on not being run-of-the-mill. Don’t imagine me for bon vivants; if there’s Guinness involved, all the better. amidst a herd of 50 Tilly-hatted tourists, nodding as our guide In 2019, I’ve added Nunavut’s Inuit arts and culture, Northern remarks, “When in Rome, you should really try the pasta.” Here’s India and kayaking around Vancouver Island to my schedule. I’ve what I’d say to that: D-uh! stuck pins in my world map at the Tanzanian-Serengeti plains; the Deeper learning is my mantra, though not for university credit. coast; the islands and lakes of Croatia and Slovenia; the Caribbean Nevertheless, before I go anywhere with anyone, we share a cou- countries of Costa Rica and Panama; and the archeological and ple of classes so we all know what we’re getting into. We arrive at historical sites of Campania, Italy. I’m using French literature as a our destination well-informed, primed for adventure and poised way to understand its cuisine and drinks, and planning to live and to absorb everything we can. eat like a local in Taipei and Hong Kong. Though I often hang out with UCalgary alumni, I’m not “old In my mind’s eye, I’m already digging into the culinary aspects school.” Frankly, I’m fresh, and it is participants’ enthusiastic of Ireland’s Celtic roots, embarking on an odyssey through An- word-of-mouth that keeps me hopping. They know that, wherever cient Greece, and marvelling at India’s wonders, past and present. they go with me, it’ll be intense. I’ll pick the brains of experts from Wish me luck as I plumb the Himalayan kingdoms of Bhutan, the university and the community; when we get to our destination, Nepal and Sikkim and comb the waters of Mexico’s Baja region for local connoisseurs will also bend our ears, over drinks, at local grey whales. sights or on the bus between them. But, reader, don’t just stand there, waving me bon voyage. I One of the authorities I see most often is a naturalist, science never travel alone. Picture 10 to 25 like-minded people: curious, writer and wildlife photographer; my companions can’t get enough intelligent lifelong learners eager to focus on the subject at hand. of him. But I also hobnob with smart folk immersed in the worlds of Get packing! — Kate Zimmerman U

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